DEVELOPMENT: Key land-use approval for 4448 California mixed-use project

| Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(Rendering by Atelier Drome)

Two years after its final approval from the Southwest Design Review Board, the 7-story mixed-use project planned for 4448 California SW in The Junction just got a key city land-use approval. Publication of the decision (read it here) opens a two-week appeal period (explained in this notice). The city description of the building includes a mix of 43 apartments and an unspecified number of “hotel” units, plus commercial space, with no offstreet parking. The development team is the same one that’s built the almost-complete 3405 Harbor SW apartment building and is constructing the 9201 Delridge Way SW mixed-use building – Housing Diversity Corporation, STS Construction Services (WSB sponsor), and Atelier Drome. The building currently on the site is partly vacant; West Seattle Coworking maintains an auxiliary space there (though their main location is at 9030 35th SW). We have a message out to the project team to ask about the project’s timeline.

ADDED FRIDAY: Their reply – “We’re looking at Q4 but still finalizing the timeline.”

Al King July 18, 2024 (5:17 pm)

Rent won’t be cheap. Renters and hotel unit occupants will have cars. Not a convenient truth to some but the truth none the less.

DRW July 18, 2024 (5:28 pm)

No off street parking. And the city wants to reduce lanes of traffic. SMH

L July 18, 2024 (6:10 pm)

No off street parking is of concern. Should be mandatory for residential and hotel buildings to have some unless grandfathered in remodeling vs new build. Will deter visitors and real estate buyers. I didn’t buy on Alki or Cap Hill because of poor parking. Public transportation isn’t 100% the answer (ex. Safety and accessibility concerns- not just the stops but getting to where you are actually going).

Fishy fishy July 18, 2024 (6:57 pm)

You didn’t buy in Alki because of no off-street parking? Hmm…
- Alki resident July 18, 2024 (10:18 pm)
  
  He said poor parking. Read it again.
  - fishy fishy July 20, 2024 (7:42 am)
    
    Oh, right, right–so 1.5 parking spots per unit clearly isn’t enough, then, since it still results in “poor parking.” Gosh, how many spots do you derelicts think will be enough? It’s almost like you haven’t thought this through…

Mike July 18, 2024 (6:47 pm)

No parking. And another box.

Daniel Beckley July 19, 2024 (6:39 am)

If you want something other than a box, you should support fewer development restrictions. It took years to permit this because boxes are all the city will approve. Developers are stuck with land use restrictions that produce only these outcomes. Who cares if there’s no parking. People with cars probably are going to prioritize living somewhere with parking, people without won’t. By the time this is built in 20 years, the Link will be in full swing and car free living will be feasible for many.
- West Marge July 19, 2024 (9:54 am)
  
  Car free for many wealthy top of the valley people who desperately need to get to SODO for sports at 6 million a mile. Delridge and pigeon point will remain a transportation and food desert. Rethinkthelink.org
  - JustSarah July 19, 2024 (11:03 am)
    
    1. Stop lying
    
    2. Link will have a Delridge station
    
    3. SoDo terminus is temporary until the connecting line is completed
    
    4. Stop lying
  - AK July 19, 2024 (12:08 pm)
    
    @WestMarge thank you for the link. I will be looking at it. As a long time resident married to 3rd generation West Seattleite, we are concerned at how they are destroying the businesses & trying to push more people over here ruining West Seattle.
  - Les July 19, 2024 (12:33 pm)
    
    6 million a mile would be a bargain unfortunately it’s going to cost $1,000,000,000 per mile.
  - Todd July 19, 2024 (7:47 pm)
    
    Why cancel the link if you want more transit to Delridge and pigeon point? Light rail construction will add a station five minutes away from pigeon point. They will be well served

Alf July 18, 2024 (6:52 pm)

What are hotel units, and the rendering is pretty unattractive,

C July 18, 2024 (8:38 pm)

Best assumption is that the windows without balconies are hotel rooms.

C July 18, 2024 (7:04 pm)

No off street parking is perfectly fine when you’ve got four grocery stores, a ton of great restaurants and bars, and (soon-ish) a light rail station in walking distance.

Anne July 18, 2024 (8:01 pm)

Soon to be light rail ? Ha ha ha – I needed a good laugh- thanks!
- K July 20, 2024 (7:13 am)
  
  This building won’t be complete for at least 2-3 years. The light rail will be about 5 years behind that, at the most, which really is not a lot of time at all, in urban planning years.
Alki resident July 18, 2024 (10:20 pm)

Light rail is definitely not soon.
- Derek July 19, 2024 (8:09 am)
  
  Yeah but it should be planned for when urbanizing and building density still

BUDDSMOM July 18, 2024 (7:04 pm)

Does this mean we will loose Shadowland???

WSB July 18, 2024 (7:33 pm)

No. Entirely different building two doors down.
WS Res July 18, 2024 (8:24 pm)

You can literally see the Shadowland building in the picture.

Oerthehillz July 18, 2024 (8:38 pm)

I like the guy holding up the pole, and the invisible trees.

Dave July 18, 2024 (9:14 pm)

The fact that there is no off street parking is a concern for the people living or staying here. There is bus service, Uber, etc. but light rail will not be here in W. Seattle for years. This is Seattle, nothing gets done quickly.

bill July 18, 2024 (9:57 pm)

No off street parking is not a concern for people who choose not to own a car and don’t want to pay for a parking space. Not digging a parking garage will lower the cost of the units.
- Echo July 19, 2024 (7:42 am)
  
  It may lower the cost of the units but that will have zero impact on the rental cost charged to tenants. No off-street parking, in 2024, is really unacceptable.
- Chemist July 19, 2024 (11:33 am)
  
  What about when they need to move in or receive furniture deliveries? Where is the moving truck or delivery truck going?
  - JustSarah July 19, 2024 (12:37 pm)
    
    On the street or possibly alley, I’d guess. It’s been over a decade since I lived in an apartment, but I lived in many and they all required advance arrangements for deliveries or move in/out activities, anyway.
  - fishy fishy July 20, 2024 (1:57 pm)
    
    Where does the delivery truck go when Easy Street, Seattle Fish Company, Talarico’s, Elliott Bay Brewing, Husky Deli, etc., order deliveries every week?

Reed July 18, 2024 (9:35 pm)

Regarding no off street parking, there is plenty in the adjacent neighborhoods.

L July 18, 2024 (11:31 pm)

The people who actually live there don’t want random people taking their spots or spots for their guests/contractors etc. This also an accessibility issue.
- Bbron July 19, 2024 (1:08 am)
  
  since when did homeowners own any of the parking on a public street? the government doesn’t need to subsidize guaranteed parking for homeowners. if it’s important to you, you can add a driveway. car infrastructure is already subsidized enough even by those who don’t own cars, and yet those that additionally own a home feel entitled to the public right-of-way because it exists near them… probably speaks volumes the phrasing of “actually live there” and “random people” like they wouldn’t be living in the community because they aren’t a sacred homeowner.
  - Brynn July 19, 2024 (7:33 am)
    
    Bbron, perfectly stated. I couldn’t agree more with everything you said.
- Unfortunate July 20, 2024 (1:21 am)
  
  “Their” spots? The mindset that you own the public street in front of your house is incredibly selfish and delusional.
lol July 19, 2024 (4:29 am)

Ah yes, filling already cramped neighborhood with more cars! that’s what will make it more safe???? how about we move away from cars with infrastructure so we can build a path to have better to solve these issues.
Bill July 19, 2024 (12:10 pm)

Watch out for the Guinea Hens

Ray July 18, 2024 (11:11 pm)

No one can park in the junction, all the spaces are full!

DB July 19, 2024 (6:45 am)

My guy, I have never not found parking in the Junction and I also know that anyone in West Seattle can get there in no time using the bus. You are well accommodated and complaining about mild, barely perceptible inconvenience.
- Bill#1 July 19, 2024 (12:16 pm)
  
  “I also know that anyone in West Seattle can get there in no time using the bus. “
  Try it!
Unfortunate July 20, 2024 (1:12 am)

I’ve lived a block from the junction for almost a decade at this point, I’ve never had trouble finding parking. Worst case I have to walk an extra 30 seconds when summer fest is happening.
fishy fishy July 20, 2024 (7:11 pm)

Ray, at least one person out there got your joke and chuckled at it. Long live Yogi Berra.

Wses4ever July 18, 2024 (11:50 pm)

No off street parking is totally fine. Just make it part of the lease agreement that in order to rent the apartment, you are not allowed to own a car. Shouldn’t be a problem with all the fantastic grocery stores, restaurants, and bars in walking distance and the abundance of available bike lanes and public transportation options if you have to commute to work or take your kids to school.

DB July 19, 2024 (6:48 am)

How come homeowners with driveways get to park all up and down the street? Is it, perhaps, a public resource? Shared among the masses? Why can’t anyone be normal about parking?
platypus July 19, 2024 (8:51 am)

No lease agreement required. An apartment without guaranteed parking is part of the math the renter will use to decide if its worth it. When comparing to one with parking, this will be cheaper. The renter may decide that they want to save money and either continue to not own a car, sell their car, or choose to share local “free” parking. The junction is also in the zone where GIG car share is currently available.
SoLongDelridge July 19, 2024 (11:24 am)

Nah, go all the way. Require all vehicles purchases to show proof of off-street parking. Japan has been doing this since 1962.
- My two cents July 19, 2024 (11:41 am)
  
  Make the entire an RPZ? Maybe. Also, population density of Japanese cities versus Seattle is just a little little bit different.
  - SoLongDelridge July 19, 2024 (3:49 pm)
    
    Also, population density of Japanese cities versus Seattle is just a little little bit different
    
    You’re so close to getting it!
My two cents July 19, 2024 (11:33 am)

… Wses4ever … let me get this straight, under your plan you would not rent to me because I own a piece of property? Sounds like your new form of redlining.

Waeattleite July 19, 2024 (12:25 am)

It is a fantasy that one set of rails somehow negates the need or want for parking. Like those rails will always go exactly where you want to. Good lord the religion that has risen up around lught rail is astounding. And missionaries continue to force it on the natives.

West Marge July 19, 2024 (9:59 am)

Hear! Hear!
Arbor Heights Resident July 19, 2024 (1:20 pm)

Nothing is being “forced” on anyone. Light rail was approved by “the natives” by democratic vote and is broadly supported.
SoLongDelridge July 19, 2024 (3:52 pm)

And missionaries continue to force it on the natives.

Given American history (and the present), this is pretty insensitive. Not surprised seeing it here though.

And complete with no coherent argument! Chefs kiss!

lmao July 19, 2024 (4:27 am)

Personally we need less street parking. it’s overcrowding and ultimately continues the car centric culture in all the most sought after areas in Seattle. I think we need multi use buildings and a reduction in lanes for cars, more for buses, bikes and rail. it would over time benefit the city more than adding street parking. the noise and pollution from idle cars moving about to park would be significantly less with more non-car traffic, I would also be an incentive to build more heat effective and cooling buildings. there are more benefits than not.

JS July 19, 2024 (7:31 am)

Ah, yes, look at how all that public transportation has reduced vehicle use in cities like New York and San Francisco.
- SoLongDelridge July 19, 2024 (11:29 am)
  
  Ah yes, look at how all the highway widening projects have reduced traffic.Transportation policy requires many different considerations. Currently, we make driving the most convenient at the expense of everything else. So you’re either ignorant or being intentionally misleading. Either way, it makes you a useless citizen.
- justjosh July 19, 2024 (11:29 am)
  
  The cities with the lowest and ninth-lowest rates of car ownership in the U.S. are great examples of how public transportation reduces the need for single-occupancy vehicles!

Westseattle July 19, 2024 (11:36 am)

Love seeing the banter between urbanites and folks living in their burb lifestyles. Excited to see this area densify – and good location for when the light rail opens!!