DEVELOPMENT: Demolition day in 1700 block of Alki Avenue SW

Thanks for the tip! Two weeks after the demolition permit was issued for small residential buildings at 1790 and 1794 Alki Avenue SW [map], circa 1910 and 1938, a backhoe has turned them into debris.

We last reported on the project proposed for this site in May 2024; it was going through the system at the time as a four-story, 12-unit building. County records show the parcels were sold four years ago for $2.3 million. City files, however, show the building permit hasn’t yet been issued.

11 Replies to "DEVELOPMENT: Demolition day in 1700 block of Alki Avenue SW"

  • former Westseattleiteq July 31, 2025 (4:14 pm)

    And more high density going in!! Alki has lost the identity and individual looks and is just another cookie cutter neighborhood–so glad to have left the area.

    • Derek August 3, 2025 (10:20 pm)

      Alki has been one of the most changing neighborhoods in its super young history. Hardly any “identity” lost here. It was a streetcar served area of cottages with Luna Park once over here, that changed, street car left, the road graded up, etc. etc. It was never any particular established identity. The real identity is the Duwamish history.

  • Jon.Hersh July 31, 2025 (9:15 pm)

    Um-m that’s an excavator, not a backhoe. A fairly small one.
    Nitpicking, I know, but you have an excellent and well written blog, so I felt it might be alright to do this tiny bit of fact checking.
    Keep up the good work!

    • WSB July 31, 2025 (9:28 pm)

      sorry, I should have checked.

  • WS Resident July 31, 2025 (10:56 pm)

    Next time just say “thing-a-ma-jigger” LOL.  You always do a great job keeping the community updated!  Thank you WSB!

  • Pat August 1, 2025 (1:26 pm)

    Or use the term Londoners use: Digger.

  • Todd August 1, 2025 (5:45 pm)

    So Sad more history being shredded at alki so they can stack more people’s per square foot- Booo

    • Brack August 1, 2025 (10:50 pm)

      Please tell me, what was the historical significance of the demolished, long-vacant structures that you’re mourning? I’d really like to know. Alki is a beautiful urban place, not some untouched nature preserve. It’s wonderful more people get to live there.

      • Manderley August 3, 2025 (7:36 pm)

        “A beautiful urban place where people are jam packed like sardines.”  Have fun living on a single family lot that’s now been upzoned for six townhouses.  Hope you get along with your neighbors really well, because it’ll be almost impossible to not stare into their windows all the time, and have virtually no privacy.  Yeah, that sounds swell.  NO, THANK YOU.  My husband and I just closed on a house and will be getting the heck out of Seattle next month.  My dream for the last ten years.  Have fun with the increasing traffic in West Seattle and the  cluster **** once they build the idiotic Light Rail Line :-(

  • WS Resident August 2, 2025 (10:36 pm)

    Good riddance. This is not the identity or history Alki neighbors want the area to be known for.

  • TheBergler August 5, 2025 (8:19 pm)

    I’m not OK with the money grab the Seattle city is doing on Alki just so they can rake in more tax revenue. The area is way over crowded now. The next thing you know, McDonalds and Burger King will replace the charming family owned restaurants we have now. It will be just like going to the strip mall in Renton. Every west seattlelite needs to complain and loudly to keep Alki Beach small and charming. Keep these corporate gold diggers away from Seattle’s best hidden gem. 

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