DEVELOPMENT: New date for 5252 California project’s first review

(Preferred ‘massing’ – size and shape – for project, from draft design packet)

As first reported here last July, Aegis Living is proposing a new assisted-living/memory-care complex at the long-vacant strip mall/restaurant site on the northeast side of California/Brandon, formally using the address 5252 California SW. Last month, the six-story, 100+-unit project was set for a mid-January date before the Southwest Design Review Board, but now that’s changed – it’s set for the second half of an online doubleheader, 7 pm Thursday, February 2nd. (The first half of the meeting – at 5 pm – will focus on the 7617 35th SW mixed-use project.) Meeting participation info, including how to comment, is here; the official meeting notice (to be published by the city Tuesday) is here; a draft version of the design packet is here. The first meeting is for “early design guidance,” so it will focus on the project’s size, shape, and placement on the site.

Chemist January 14, 2023 (2:31 pm)

the design packet references about Admiral Way 11 times in their plat description on pg 4 and in the demolition permit on pg 15 and their neighborhood maps have 2x 45th Ave SW on pg 12-14. Do better Ankrom Moisan.

With 100 units and the 25-45 off-street parking spaces appearing to be a garage off the alleyway, I’m curious what their anticipated access route is for EMT, SFD, and coroner’s vehicles. I’m surprised there’s no specific section outlining that, as most facilities for the elderly generate a lot of those types of visits when a resident falls and may be hurt, for example. Seems like they’d be likely to stop on California as turns into an alley to access a garage (not to mention garage height issues) could be problematic.

K January 14, 2023 (3:51 pm)

Why is it a problem for EMS to stop on California? There are plenty of building EMS accesses from arterials. You are complaining about an extremely normal thing.
- Chemist January 14, 2023 (5:03 pm)
  
  The Aegis project on Admiral is 80some units and has significant off-street access including a loading dock for EMS, foodservice, transportation to normal doctor’s visits, the contractors who come to work on elevators, etc. 4700 SW Admiral Way also looks to have about 100 logged 911 responses a year. The development off Brandon would house even more people so planning for more 911 responses than the average apartment building is prudent. The average height for an ambulance is 9 ft tall and option 1 and 2 is shown with a garage/2nd floor height of 8.5 ft, which seems small (and that’s presuming there’s no clearance obstacles) but that’s called the service entry. Option 3 is marked preferred, but this draft document doesn’t have a lot of floorplans with garage details either. It’s in the massing stages, I’m interested in where the building would want an ambulance to park if it’s making a 1 hr response call.
  - K January 14, 2023 (5:44 pm)
    
    The ambulance can park on California and it will be okay.

Rob January 14, 2023 (2:57 pm)

All I can say is FINALLY. That lot has been urban blight for so long. That Papa John’s was my first ever real job. They also need to do something with the lot across the street next to Ephesus that burnt up.

Rick January 14, 2023 (7:48 pm)

That was my barbershop for 15 years that burnt up but I was able to re-open within a couple of weeks. The family that owned the property sold it to the owner of Ephesus who had plans to develop it. And there it sits.
- WSB January 14, 2023 (8:57 pm)
  
  The 9-townhouse plan we wrote about a year ago is still making its way through the system. And the site finally sold in August, for $1.6 million.

john January 14, 2023 (3:00 pm)

Option 3 as shown above looks to be the best option.

DCDullesFoster January 16, 2023 (10:57 am)

As if California Avenue doesn’t present enough opportunities for the eyes to gaze upon both the blighty vacant and non-vacant businesses. Absolutely, this spot in question is an eyesore! I am so glad development is impending because it brings more people traffic to this desolate corridor of human foot travel. More importantly, I do not see really any complaints from the old and curmudgeonly West Seattle NIMBYists who think every development project ruins their neighborhood’s mid-20th Century charm (if one ever existed). Perhaps, economic development (minus the pizza joints) will accompany this large structure’s completion and habitation. Indeed, the 98116 and 98126 are urbanizing. It’s very nice to see.

snowskier January 16, 2023 (1:29 pm)

Can they get a demo permit ahead of everything else to get the lot to bare dirt and fencing while the rest of the project proceeds? I’ve spoke with 2 different women who have been accosted by unstable squatters while on their morning runs. Luckily, they’re both fast Boston qualifiers who can easily outpace and outlast a threat on foot but they shouldn’t have to and wouldn’t have to if these structures were demolished.