DEVELOPMENT: Design decision for 3010 SW Avalon Way

| Development | West Seattle news

The only West Seattle project to have had a Southwest Design Review Board meeting this year, ~86 apartments at 3010 SW Avalon Way [map], now has its official design decision. The official report was released by the city today; see it here. This opens a two-week period for appeals, as explained in this notice. As we reported when the project went before the board in March, the project is proposed as an eight-story building with no offstreet parking. As for whether it’s on track to be built any time soon – since the development market has been fairly slow around here – that’s hard to tell from the document files, and of course the West Seattle light-rail project likely looms large in that area’s future.

Peter October 14, 2025 (6:05 pm)

Not having any off street parking is a horrible decision by the city. Walk around this area any time after 8pm and you will find zero parking spots. This isn’t just a convenience issue, it’s a safety issue. People will park illegally and block driveways, corners, and fire zones. It’s not a matter of walking a block or two, it’s a matter of walking 10+ blocks away from your home in order to park legally.

MacJ October 14, 2025 (9:09 pm)

It’s the developer’s decision, not the city’s. The percent of people living in Seattle dependent on government mandated car storage is in decline: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/as-seattle-grew-the-number-of-cars-here-has-barely-budged-since-2017/
My two cents October 14, 2025 (11:18 pm)

IMO, illegal parking under your scenario will be ticketed.
- PDiddy October 15, 2025 (1:14 pm)
  
  Seen any RVs with tickets lately?
  - K October 15, 2025 (3:55 pm)
    
    Illegally parked cars and RVs usually get towed. Tickets are most common in metered areas, for people who didn’t pay.
Mike B October 15, 2025 (2:08 pm)

Walking 10+ block? Give me a break, that’s like Juneau or Spokane from Alaska. People in the densest part of our state, Capitol Hill, don’t even have that problem.There’s a lot of talk here about new development requiring parking, the world is going to end I can’t find a parking space in front of my house, etc. Perhaps people who own single-family homes with multiple cars should be required to clean out their garages, or build one, and put their car(s) in there. How many SFH owners garages are full of junk with people’s car(s) parked on the street? That’d help alleviate parking concerns while guaranteeing you have your own personal parking space.

IDC9 October 14, 2025 (7:16 pm)

No off street parking? Thats a recipe for neighborhood parking problems!

MacJ October 14, 2025 (9:11 pm)

You’re not legally required to have off street parking in single family homes, why should we force that cost on renters?

Emily October 14, 2025 (9:00 pm)

For anyone concerned about parking concerns, this building is like literally across the street from the C line bus stop lol

Les October 15, 2025 (11:52 am)

When (if) light rail comes to West Seattle it is likely that the C line will be discontinued.
- WSB October 15, 2025 (12:00 pm)
  
  Metro has said that there will be no changes in downtown-bound WS buses until the Ballard extension also is built.

Mike October 14, 2025 (9:10 pm)

86 apartments. No parking. How dumb can we get?

WSSJ October 14, 2025 (9:46 pm)

Turns out, these apartments aren’t for you. Shocking, I know!

K October 14, 2025 (9:22 pm)

Statistically, Seattleites aren’t buying cars like they used to. Population of the city has swelled for several years, while number of cars has been relatively stagnant for some time. Seattle already has an average of nearly 2.5 parking spots for every man, woman, and child here. And a shrinking percentage of residents have cars. Your fears about parking do not hold up under scrutiny and i’m glad the city is continuing to approve buildings with no offstreet parking.

Anne October 14, 2025 (9:45 pm)

Good- just keep adding on to the nightmare that is Avalon Way. Good luck having friends & family over – oh never mind as someone pointed out it’s right across from the C line- everyone can just take the bus!

1994 October 14, 2025 (10:25 pm)

I agree Avalon has become a nightmare to navigate. So much going on you don’t know where to look or what to expect….
- bill October 15, 2025 (8:33 am)
  
  Umm, I know it’s hard to grasp, but when driving you should look out your windshield, not at your phone.

Kyle October 15, 2025 (7:21 am)

The city removed all parking requirements for development. So there is no incentive to provide them anymore. Compromise is out, urbanist idealism is in.

Platypus October 15, 2025 (10:37 am)

There is incentive, its for the customers, if a developer feels that the market will pay the higher cost for off street parking they can choose to add it. The only change is the city will not force it, which is good. The developer is choosing to make cheaper housing, and I would imagine that anyone who wants to live here will make an informed decision for their own lives. We are letting adults make choices, this is a good thing.Additionally, if those same adults choose to park illegally, we should tow their car.
- Kyle October 16, 2025 (12:52 pm)
  
  The developer is looking to increase profits and build as cheaply as possible. The apartments will be market rate, customers won’t see any savings. Typical large apartments charge you extra for a spot anyways so you aren’t charged if you don’t need a spot. Requiring x spots for a building this big is common sense and would help lessen the impact on those who already live nearby. But again, compromise is out.

H2OK9 October 15, 2025 (8:14 am)

I travel a lot for work. I see most cities are doing a housing push to increase density. Seattle construction truly is among the least attractive, cheapest looking on the West Coast. I know we need units but we’re creating a market of poorly constructed, ugly buildings.This will be our legacy.

Roebucks October 15, 2025 (12:15 pm)

I too travel and see no such thing.
This “poorly constructed” phrase is a NIMBY meme without merit.

There have always been mixtures of housing quality, from poor to custom, all up and down the West Coast.

The West Seattle is no exception, where folks once decried the cheap bungalows that were sprouting up like fall mushrooms, all the same (Sears Roebuck catalog houses!).

Plus we have plenty of aging apartments that are certainly unremarkable, but no accounting for taste.

It is crazy that we still allow people to rent apartments in unreinforced brick structures, as much as some may love the look of bricks.

Peter October 15, 2025 (8:38 am)

bUt whAt aBouT ThE pArKiNg ¿¡ …):

Shawna October 15, 2025 (9:13 pm)

No off street parking for this big of a building should be a crime!

Ron October 16, 2025 (7:26 am)

Great design, so thankful they aren’t providing parking. Much better use of the bus line—and off street parking is the most expensive, demand-inducing, neighborhood-ruining way of managing curb crowding.more like this please!

WestSeattleDerm October 16, 2025 (9:06 am)

The city should report the % of vehicle ownership at apartments along 3200 Avalon Way to give a honest sense of what would be expected at 3010SW Avalon Way. 3010SW will be a little under 2X the distance to the nearest grocery store (TJs) let alone anything else. It seems like we have the data available to tell us how many future 3010SW residents will end up opting for 1 or more automobiles.

K October 16, 2025 (6:17 pm)

Induced demand is a thing. The present does not predict the future when variables change.

anon October 16, 2025 (10:34 am)

A lot of people in the comments talking about lack of parking, so from someone who’s been on 32XX SW Avalon for a few years now: My partner and I don’t drive, previous roommates rarely drove. Definitely helps that I’ve been WFH since COVID, but walking, public transport, the occasional rideshare, and friends who go out of their way to offer us a ride have been more than enough.

Sorry, comment time is over.