DEVELOPMENT: West Seattle Junction building with Husky Deli’s future home ‘on the shelf for a little while’

After the Southwest Design Review Board took its first look at the 4448 California SW proposal last week, we wondered about the status of other planned West Seattle Junction projects that have long since finished Design Review but aren’t under construction yet. Our first followup is about 4747 California SW, with a development team including Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller, whose legendary Junction shop would be the building’s major commercial occupant.

(Rendering by Ankrom Moisan)

The SW Design Review Board gave its final thumbs-up to the project in a meeting two years ago tonight, on July 19th, 2019. At the time, Miller told us that if all went well, they might be able to start construction about a year later. But now two years have passed. Miller’s partner in the project, West Seattle-residing developer Ed Hewson, told us last September that the project was still “moving forward,” albeit “slowly.” We just checked in with him again. “Our project is definitely on the shelf for a little while but certainly not cancelled,” Hewson told WSB. “Currently this is a casualty of the bridge and Covid, which has put enough of the dent in the West Seattle rental market for anyone to start any new apartment projects of any size.”

There’s one major project close to wrapping up, Legacy Partners’ Maris at 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW, but Hewson notes it “probably started just in time to get a construction loan, but might not have been feasible after January 2020. We are hoping they have great success and make our neighborhood attractive to lenders again despite the slow-go on the bridge repair.”

The 4747 California SW plan was approved as a proposal for 73 units, 45 offstreet-parking spaces, ~5,000 square feet of retail, in a 7-story building (though the site is zoned for 9). Hewson added, “We love the Husky Deli plan and can’t wait to get started when the West Seattle world gets back to normal!”

20 Replies to "DEVELOPMENT: West Seattle Junction building with Husky Deli's future home 'on the shelf for a little while'"

  • B. July 19, 2021 (10:13 pm)

    This is so sad. husky Deli really needs a new site. The deli is a corner stone in the junction.

  • Brett July 19, 2021 (10:22 pm)

    Any news/update on the site across from the West Seattle Nursery?  That property turning into an eye sore.

    • WSB July 19, 2021 (11:33 pm)

      I’ve been watching the file on that one (a collection of several sites). Permits were renewed in May.

      • MARIANNE July 20, 2021 (8:24 am)

        How about the one to the north of the VCA on California, not far from the WS Nursery?

  • Joe Z July 19, 2021 (11:14 pm)

    No permit until they explain how the ice cream will be sold during construction. 

    • jack July 20, 2021 (12:08 am)

      there will be no lapse in ice cream, the old location stays open until the new one is ready to open :) 

  • Thomas July 20, 2021 (1:00 am)

    Another large, rather boring box.  Hoped for more charm and design but understand that it’s cheaper to build.  Disappointing 

  • HS July 20, 2021 (7:00 am)

    I’m disturbed to read that development lending has been affected by the bridge being out.

    • BT July 23, 2021 (7:36 pm)

      Same…

  • Alex July 20, 2021 (7:57 am)

    Any word on what the retail space in Maris might become?

    • WSB July 23, 2021 (8:03 pm)

      One has finally shown up in city files: A dental practice.

  • Jort July 20, 2021 (8:01 am)

    Is the delay related to the 6+ year delay for “The Hydrant,” which currently holds the West Seattle record for “longest high-rent vacancy in the Junction?” Or is it basically only reserved for painting anti-incumbent political campaigning on the windows?    

    • Villagegreen July 20, 2021 (2:51 pm)

      The Hydrant seems to be the Junction’s version of those eyesore ‘Trump 2020 Keep America Great’ banners that grace central and eastern Washington. What an inane waste of money. 

  • Confused July 20, 2021 (10:42 am)

    To be sure there are alot of issues and risk when bldg. Add to it the fluctuating price of materials, manpower scarcity. However, would have guessed that the bridge would have long been finished by the time this bldg would be done. 

  • Kram July 20, 2021 (11:35 am)

    The bridge and Covid sure didn’t seem to stop most other projects. It seems like every other day there is a new project listed on the blog. Construction on something like this could be nearly 2 years I would think so the bridge would be open even in a worse case.  I wonder if there is a chance construction costs keep this ‘on the shelf’?

  • Calires July 20, 2021 (12:00 pm)

    Perhaps lenders are familiar with the magical thinking inherent in the Seattle Process around budgets and timelines on big public works projects.

  • JohnW July 20, 2021 (2:24 pm)

    Lots of speculation generated from the rather vague statements from Mr. Hewson.  He seems to be implying some new difficulties regarding West Seattle and the delays, but is not specific.  As noted in other comments, the same uncertainties apply to other projects that are moving forward.With our community facing such fundamental challenges,  how will we know if and when West Seattle gets back to normal and what will that normal look like?At least one touch of normal, Jack has promised uninterrupted Husky Deli Ice cream.

  • A C July 20, 2021 (3:00 pm)

    Note that the Maris building is at 4722. The 4754 address is for the neighboring Huxley building.

    • WSB July 20, 2021 (3:12 pm)

      Fixing.

  • N July 20, 2021 (11:08 pm)

    To me his comments seemed really straight forward and not a surprise.  Rents were down significantly post bridge closure which affects projected values and this lending.  

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