LAM BOW APARTMENTS: Plan to replace fire-destroyed building goes to Southwest Design Review Board tomorrow

| Delridge | Development | West Seattle news

(WSB reader photo from September 2016 three-alarm fire, the cause of which was never determined)

Tomorrow (Thursday) night, the plan for replacing the fire-destroyed building at the Lam Bow Apartments (6955 Delridge Way SW) goes before the Southwest Design Review Board. Here’s the full “packet” prepared for the meeting:

(You can also see it on the city website in PDF.) While getting ready for the meeting, project-team members visited the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting in mid-April. If you’re interested in a preview before tomorrow’s review, here are our notes:

The briefing was led by Ryan Moore of the Seattle Housing Authority, which owns the Lam Bow. He said that as is required in the Early Design Guidance phase, they will be presenting three options for the new building, which will be 3 stories high, with about 50 apartments and 49 offstreet parking spaces. Their preferred option has a mix of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units, with a central play area, a new commons building, and an open space that might be used for a P-patch or recreation. In general, DNDC attendees had positive reactions, but they also had a lot of questions about access to the parking lot on the Delridge Way side of the building; SDOT is apparently requiring that access be closed because of the future conversion of Metro Route 120 to the RapidRide H Line. The future of that project depends on federal funding that already has been called into question, and since then, the Move Seattle levy spending situation has raised further questions about upcoming RapidRide projects’ city funding. Moore said access to the parking lot would continue via 23rd SW, which would also see improvements such as a sidewalk and gutter. Attendees said they still thought keeping both sides open would be optimal. Moore also was asked about nearby Longfellow Creek and drainage, and said they are still working with a consultant on that.

Thursday night’s hearing will be limited to design issues, and is the first of at least two times the project will be considered by the SWDRB. It starts at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon).

I'mcoveredinbees May 2, 2018 (11:37 pm)

Yaaaaayyy! So happy this is happening. And a question: who is in charge of managing the Lambow? Lots of drug issues behind it and not sure who to contact.

Ws prayers May 3, 2018 (9:31 am)

It says seattle housing authority

DB Coup May 3, 2018 (1:19 pm)

50 units and 49 off street parking places? Why are developers and builders always pushing the parking spot issue in our city? I will imagine that there will be more cars than units for the all the people that will rent the new apartment, there always is. If two people rent a unit there is a great chance there will be two cars for that unit. For every single or studio there will be at least one.

Now we have a 66 unit apartment being built at Barton and 25th SW with no parking spots. This area is not well served by transit and there are not many jobs that residence will be walking to work to.

WSB May 3, 2018 (1:29 pm)

Separate from the to-build-parking-or-not-to-build-parking issue (the council just finalized the loosening of the law so the debate is over for now), Westwood Village, kitty corner from the unrelated project you mention, cannot possibly be described as “not well served by transit” – and even the Lam Bow is on the 120 so I don’t believe the rebuild would have to build any parking at all, though SHA is choosing to.

A May 3, 2018 (2:40 pm)

One of the best presentations that I have attended! SHA actually thought about the community in the sense providing amenities and parking. I hope the design review board gives the ok on this project.

matt hutchins May 4, 2018 (12:06 pm)

SHA is choosing to provide 15 more parking spaces than would be required by code, getting to a 1 unit to 1 parking space ratio which they’ve found works for their properties in this area.

Approved by DRB.

WSB May 4, 2018 (12:30 pm)

Thanks, wish I could have been there but only had one person available last night and I figure we’ll catch up with this again at the recommendation meeting.

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