DEVELOPMENT: Another Avalon apartment project advancing

| Development | West Seattle news

(December 2020 rendering by Public47 Architects)

Three years after the first Southwest Design Review Board meeting about 3201 SW Avalon Way, the next one has just been scheduled for September 23rd. As we reported last December, the project at what’s currently the Golden Tee Apartments site has changed since the 2018 review – now 8 stories (taller), 144 apartments (fewer), 70 offstreet-parking spaces (fewer), with a different architecture firm, Public47. This document filed in December shows those new details. The full design packet isn’t available yet, and the city webpage still shows the old plan’s toplines, but what could be the final SWDRB meeting about the project is now set for 5 pm September 23rd, online; watch here for attendance details.

Joe Z August 26, 2021 (1:02 pm)

Going to be hard to run the light rail through that building…

AvalonTom August 26, 2021 (2:26 pm)

Yep. This is exactly were the current train alignment is proposed to go. Price just went up. Fun times for ST!
- Joe Z August 26, 2021 (3:03 pm)
  
  If I was planning the light rail I would just eliminate that section of SW Genesee and put the rail where the road used to be. That section was a late add to the road network and never should have been built on such a steep hill.
- flimflam August 26, 2021 (3:57 pm)
  
  Weird. Why would this get approved if that is indeed in the path of light rail?
  - WSB August 26, 2021 (4:19 pm)
    
    The route has not been finalized yet.
  - Chemist August 27, 2021 (1:20 am)
    
    A good lawyer can plea that the permitted property had a certain income potential and get that money relatively soon from Sound Transit without building a thing/just having valid permits. If the construction goes through and rail moves elsewhere, the return on investment will take decades.
Martin August 26, 2021 (3:48 pm)

SkyLink would fly right by/over it!
- scott August 26, 2021 (5:52 pm)
  
  Skylink… is that the low capacity novelty transit I keep hearing about?
  - Also John August 26, 2021 (9:05 pm)
    
    @Scott…. I haven’t done the math, but it sounds like you have. Can you share? A Skylink condola will hold, let’s say 10 people. They will come every 10-12 seconds. I’m basing this on those I’ve used around the world. The light rails holds ???? and comes every 20 minutes??? I’m to tired to do the math.
    - Martin August 27, 2021 (2:00 pm)
      
      Let me help with the math: SkyLink can provide 4500 seats per hour in each direction, light rail provides 3200 at most (80 seats per car, 4 cars, every 6min), but some more people can stand if necessary.
  - Marfaun August 26, 2021 (11:00 pm)
    
    Get the facts at https://www.westseattleskylink.org
    - Derek August 27, 2021 (9:54 am)
      
      Get the facts at….the place that promotes it? That’s funny! No facts there. Just propaganda outlet for people who will never ride public transit pushing a gimmick.

Jay August 26, 2021 (1:17 pm)

Wish this would become the standard. 8 stories is a good use of space and it’s got a 1:2 parking space ratio that keeps it from putting pressure on street parking. This is a good example of higher density development. Of course I’m sure that rent will cost a fortune.

Flan August 26, 2021 (1:51 pm)

” building with restaurant and grocery store ” excited to see what might go in here! Would love to see a HMart!

WSB August 26, 2021 (2:01 pm)

No, the “restaurant and grocery store” was from the original description and the city STILL hasn’t changed it. I don’t know that even the previous proposal had room for a “grocery store” (maybe a mini-mart?) but the revised proposal has 3,266 square feet total commercial space.

Flo B August 26, 2021 (5:12 pm)

WSB agree. Flan. Your “grocery store” would in all likely hood be a glorified 7-11. Lot’s of beer and cigs. Also, they’ll be putting 70+ additional cars on the street looking for parking.

Derek August 27, 2021 (9:56 am)

Lightrail should be underground or right down WS Freeway and then down along Avalon up to Faultleroy where it becomes street level again. Everyone wins there.

Martin August 27, 2021 (2:10 pm)

Sound Transit studied a freeway alignment but it would not allow a connection to 120/H line and therefore was dismissed. They are still studying a partial tunnel under Avalon/Junction, but it would still destroy Youngstown and the first station would be under Avalon/35th/Fauntleroy – can you image a construction pit on that intersection for 5 years?

gatewood88 August 27, 2021 (10:44 am)

public47 generally designs better looking buildings with higher quality finishes than other local firms. the buildings they’ve done in both eastlake/capitol hill that i saw built when i lived in both neighborhoods stood out for just being overall nicer/fitting in better with the surrounding neighborhood. I’m saying this despite the fact that one of their buildings ended up blocking 1/2 of my view of lake union… if this does end up being built will likely be a nice addition to the neighborhood.

sgs August 27, 2021 (11:17 am)

Derek, good tunnel plan, but see you in 20 years, and though it’s NIMBY, I’d hate to see elevated at the Junction. We need something sooner. Glad to see more info on Skylink here – let’s look at this option, folks! Since we aren’t going to get a tunnel for years, if ever, the Skylink seems a good option for the West Seattle footprint.

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