BIZNOTE: Alki Lumber about to move from future development site

| Development | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tips! “We’re Moving Soon” banners like the one in our photo have gone up around the longtime Alki Lumber yard in The Triangle. So, readers asked, how soon is “soon”? The exact date isn’t finalized yet but “very” soon, Alki Lumber tells us, likely within weeks, with more details expected shortly. As we first reported four years ago, Alki Lumber is owned by Marine Lumber, sold by the Sweeney family after a century. Its new location is in South Park – 558 S. Kenyon. It’s been seven years since the Sweeneys announced they were studying options for their Triangle property’s future; they subsequently made plans for two buildings on what became known as the Sweeney Blocks, with hundreds of apartments.

(2021 rendering, with potential location for historic neon sign)

The projects finished going through Design Review in 2021 (as we reported here and here); some, but not all, major permits have since been issued.

Bansuvs February 23, 2026 (5:29 pm)

WSB, can you do some sleuthing to figure out what the hold up is on the rest of the permits and when the redevelopment would begin? So excited for this area to get some much needed improvements including ground floor retail

WSB February 24, 2026 (12:08 am)

I don’t believe it’s a holdup on permits. They got major permits two years ago, and at the time, Lynn Sweeney told us that construction timetable depended on “the state of the world.” Other major projects/sites have been on hold for the same reason, such as the future-home-of-Husky-Deli building in The Junction.

Eli February 23, 2026 (5:41 pm)

I wonder how they are going to manage the traffic here, it’s tough getting around this busy block. Sad for my cascade sunrise view but on the bright side, the blaring bright lights on Forge apartments roof will be blocked

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy February 23, 2026 (7:23 pm)

I’m soooo glad I just submitted my intent to move. Forge Apartments is gonna be loud soon.

Sandy February 23, 2026 (7:34 pm)

So curious and exciting for this much needed redevelopment! C’mon guys, this is a blighted area. The street is basically deserted. What’s the status of the permits and redevelopment? It can’t come soon enough!

Rhonda February 24, 2026 (2:52 am)

“Blighted area”? Says who? Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, LA Fitness, QFC, and dozens of other thriving businesses are all around it.

tim February 23, 2026 (7:52 pm)

Gonna miss Alki Lumber. Good luck to them. Is it really a good time to invest in apt buildings? And Seattle? This will be interesting.

Derp February 23, 2026 (9:16 pm)

Their new place is in South Park
Jake February 24, 2026 (9:14 am)

Yes we need housing like no other and densify for incoming lightrail.

Rob February 23, 2026 (8:07 pm)

If you’re in the trades/construction worker this is good news if your company gets this project. Good living wage. good for there families

LIBRA February 24, 2026 (12:01 am)

“Hundreds of apartments”????? This is crazy for a very small area with limited street parking. And please no comments that bus service is close by……MOST PEOPLE STILL DRIVE CARS!
- WSB February 24, 2026 (12:10 am)
  
  When it went through Design Review (see the two links in this story), the project had more than 300 offstreet-parking places planned (and about 500 apartments).
- Elton February 24, 2026 (9:53 am)
  
  A lot of NIMBYs tend to forget that generally mid/high rise apartment building have underground off-street parking. I park in that area on a regular basis – other than for major events parking is not that hard.
- SpencerGT February 25, 2026 (11:18 am)
  
  I agree that it’s excessive.

wetone February 24, 2026 (7:53 am)

I agree with others here that this area will have huge parking issues. As said “about 500 new units for this project 300 off street parking spaces “ real question is how many bedrooms ? as most all units will have at least 1 vehicle driver. Hopefully city will start a permit parking program in surrounding neighborhoods to help with the huge influx of cars being parked from projects as this. City keeps preaching that these projects bring little impact to surrounding neighborhoods as new residents use transit systems and bike, time to back those statements up or rethink these huge projects. With other big projects in works for area it’s going to make junction area a very dark ugly place and throw in the limited ingress/egress o boy……..

Foop February 24, 2026 (9:21 am)

C line, 128, 21, 22, 50, Water Taxi Shuttle, Light Rail, bike lanes – egress will be fine. The neighborhoods elsewhere that have gotten apartments have been find, there’s been no parking apocalypse, some people can and will live here without a car. If I lived in a place this well connected I would heavily consider going car-free.
- Platypus February 24, 2026 (1:12 pm)
  
  Excellent list, also don’t forget walking! Anyone living here can walk to ton of places that many people who live in car dependent neighborhoods associate needing a car for. Grocery, gym, ice cream, dentist, pizza, junction even has a hardware store.
bill February 24, 2026 (9:32 am)

A neighborhood has to get together to ask the city for a restricted parking zone (RPZ). And the residents who want permits have to buy them.
Why does everyone carry on as if renters are stupid? “D’oh, I didn’t know I don’t get a parking space!” These units are going to attract tenants who don’t want to own a car. If the developer thought parking for every unit were necessary it would be included.This development argues for building the Avalon Link station.
- Platypus February 24, 2026 (1:14 pm)
  
  Not having a station across the street is a big blow for this place. I hope they consider to keep it. Then more development will be built too! I know residents can walk up the hill to the Junction station, but this would have been way more convenient.

junctioneer February 24, 2026 (11:23 am)

Interesting, so at least 200 additional cars parked on the streets.

I support the project (not that it matters), but it was pretty special to have a lumber yard in the neighborhood. It makes sense for it not to be here, but it was a cool relic of the past and West Seattle history that was also super practical.

Makes sense for them to take advantage of the current financial upsides to shift outta there.

Jason February 24, 2026 (11:59 am)

Welcome, new residents, to our Fauntleroy h*llscape!

Time for that lovely dilemma:

Do I…

a) Try to cross Fauntleroy between lights during rush hour

b) Walk past the screaming dude carrying a blue comforter, or

c) Walk a half-mile out of the way and likely encounter someone who is screaming, but less loudly?

Also I’m skeptical restricted parking will help, because nothing is enforced. Whenever I walk past the Link building at 38th and Alaska, the disabled parking spaces are occupied by DoorDash or Uber Eats delivery drivers. No placards in sight.

PJ February 24, 2026 (2:13 pm)

Not familiar with the referenced triangle location- can someone share the address or intersections of this project?

WSB February 24, 2026 (2:19 pm)

4440 Fauntleroy is one side of the street.
P.S. I’ll be publishing a separate followup later today regarding the project status. Short version is “no change” but it’s not a city holdup, it’s owners waiting.

B February 24, 2026 (8:15 pm)

I guess this is the perfect place to gripe. Aside from parking, can we PLEASE require these monstrosities to AT LEAST provide 4, 3-min delivery spots out front, so that delivery drivers can serve their 500+ new tenants. It’s a joke that most of these buildings have 1 or 0 delivery-specific spots.

ryan February 25, 2026 (7:11 pm)

yes, the perfect place. it’s a well known fact that contractors building multi million dollar projects around town thoroughly scrutinize every pertinent WSB comment.

Sorry, comment time is over.