DEVELOPMENT: Arbor Heights project under way
3 1/2 years after we first reported that a multifamily project was proposed for the former Church of Christ site at 4220 SW 100th, site work is under way. Jeff tipped us late last month that demolition had begun; crews were doing deconstruction work by hand at first, but now heavy equipment is involved. The 8-townhouse, 1-live-work project went through Design Review in 2017 and 2018; it drew extra scrutiny because its site is part of an isolated sliver of multifamily/commercial zoning – NC1-30 (three stories) when the project was initiated, so that’s what it’s being built to, though HALA MHA has since upzoned the site to NC1-40 (four stories).
DEVELOPMENT: Triangle tower crane about to go up
Thanks to Eddie for the photo from the two-building project at 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW/4721 38th SW, which led us to ask developer Legacy Partners how soon the tower crane would go in. Very soon, we learned:
The tower crane will be installed this Friday 10/4. The entire process will occur off 38th. We have the required SDOT permits and will have police officers and flaggers directing traffic at 38th and Alaska. In addition, we have obtained a noise variance and spoke with the neighbors (single family’s, Les Schwab, fire station, Holland, etc) as this work will begin at 5:00 am and take the majority of the day.
Note that Friday is also the first scheduled day of the next 35th/Avalon intersection closure (though that doesn’t start until 9 am). This will be the first tower crane in West Seattle since the one at the Luna Apartments/PCC Community Markets (WSB sponsor, opening tomorrow) site was removed in May.
DEVELOPMENT: Next Design Review Board meeting set for West Seattle Junction project at 4508 California SW
One year after its last Southwest Design Review Board meeting, the project planned for 4508 California SW in The Junction has its next date with the SWDRB. As published on the city website, the meeting is set for 6:30 pm Thursday, November 7th. The project is currently described as “a 7-story building with 44 apartment units, 14 small efficiency dwelling units (58 units total), lodging and retail. Parking for 17 vehicles proposed.” It would replace the storefronts that currently hold three restaurants, Kamei, Lee’s, and Naked Crepe. The review meeting will be at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon) and will include a comment period. Also of note, separate from Design Review, the comment period on the project application has reopened – here’s the notice about that (PDF).
DEVELOPMENT: Early Community Outreach meeting for HALA-upzoned site
(King County Assessor photo)
Another HALA MHA-upzoned site in Morgan Junction has a redevelopment plan, and the project team sent word of an Early Community Outreach meeting. It’s 6035 42nd SW, currently holding the 94-year-old house shown above, upzoned to Lowrise 1 by HALA MHA and now proposed for five townhouses, with two more to be built behind the not-to-be-demolished house to the south at 6039 42nd SW. The project team invites interested community members to come to C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) 7-8 pm Monday, October 14th. They’ve also set up a project website here.
FOLLOWUP: Admiral Church announces Town Hall to discuss redevelopment plan
(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
Last December, Admiral Congregational Church‘s pastor told the Admiral Neighborhood Association that the church (4320 SW Hill) was mulling redevelopment. Then in July, the church wrote this “open letter” to the community, mentioning they had hired an architect and design firm for a feasibility study. Now – they’re ready to talk with you about the future. Just announced:
Town Hall: The Future of Admiral Neighborhood’s Church
October 8, 7:00 pm
After much deep thinking about how to serve the North Admiral community, Admiral Congregational UCC has discerned a preliminary plan for redevelopment. We are at the initial stages of surveying the site and connecting with potential development partners, and we want to keep the neighborhood as “in the know” as possible, with opportunities to share hopes, hesitations, and help as folks feel so moved. Please join us in envisioning a vibrant Admiral neighborhood with a sustainable center for justice and mercy at its heart.
Nothing is on file with the city yet, and pastor Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom tells WSB they’re likely as much as a year away from getting to that stage. As noted in our previous coverage, the church’s 27,000-square-foot site at is zoned Lowrise 3.
DEVELOPMENT: Another West Seattle proposal to replace church building with townhouses
(King County Assessor photo)
For the second day in a row, a proposal to replace a West Seattle church building with townhouses has appeared in city files – yesterday, in Admiral; today, in North Delridge. This early-stage proposal would replace the Full Gospel Pentecostal Federated Church building at 5071 Delridge Way SW and a church-owned house to the north at 5061 Delridge, according to the site plan filed today (PDF), with 16 townhouses. Each would include a garage. (We don’t know the church’s status; its phone number went to voicemail.)
DEVELOPMENT: 3 West Seattle sites with feedback opportunities
Three feedback opportunities involving planned development:
6320 & 6326 41ST SW: An Early Community Outreach for Design Review site tour is planned by the project team for these Morgan Junction sites with 15 townhouses proposed as first mentioned here back in June. Just show up at 11 am September 20th. (Flyers are here and here [PDF].)
2000 & 2050 SW ORCHARD: The application is in for two rowhouse-style townhouse buildings totaling 18 units on this greenbelt site east of Delridge. You have until September 23rd to comment; this notice (PDF) explains how.
2622 & 2624 SW GENESEE: The application is also in for these projects totaling 3 townhouses and 3 single-family homes in North Delridge. The comment deadline is also September 23rd; this notice (PDF) explains how.
DESIGN REVIEW: 4401 42nd SW gets OK to advance to next phase
(Rendering from packet by Cone Architecture)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Southwest Design Review Board‘s first look at 4401 42nd SW ended with approval to move to the second phase of the process, with advice including, heed the project’s surroundings – especially Holy Rosary Catholic Church, whose dramatic entrance and bell tower will be right across Genesee.
The meeting was the second half of a doubleheader (here’s how the night began) at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, and was an Early Design Guidance meeting, meaning the focus was on size/shape/placement on the site – the finer points of design are the subject of the next round of the process. The project is proposed for (under the team’s “preferred” massing) 72 Small Efficiency Dwelling Units (microapartments), 6 live-work units (all “paired and recessed”), and 36 offstreet parking spaces. The design packet by Cone Architecture is here (PDF) and below:
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DEVELOPMENT: City survey asks what kind of housing you would like to see built
It’s a topic everyone’s got an opinion about – development, particularly housing. What should (or shouldn’t) we be building more of in Seattle? And longer-term – should zoning change to allow more, denser housing in more places? Here’s your chance to sound off in an official city survey. We found the Housing Choices Survey tucked into the middle of the Department of Neighborhoods’ newest newsletter. A related Office of Planning and Community Development webpage explains what it’s about:
Housing Choices is an initiative to create more market-rate housing options, in more places, for more people. Our Housing Choices Background Report provides information about the private housing market in order to start a conversation about this topic. We are now reaching out to hear your perspectives about housing choices, better understand the issues and opportunities, and explore potential responses. Your input, along with additional data and analysis, will inform future recommendations for addressing key issues.
Our Housing Choices survey will help inform near-term actions as well as longer-term recommendations that we hope to present in early 2020.
You can answer the survey’s questions (note that some are optional) by going here.
DEVELOPMENT: Preview the packets for Delridge, Junction projects that SW Design Review Board will consider next week
The Southwest Design Review Board considers two mixed-use projects on Thursday (September 5th) at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). The design packets for both are available to preview.
(Rendering from packet by Sazei Design Group)
8854 DELRIDGE WAY SW: The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm with what could be the last review for this proposal on the NE corner of Delridge and Henderson. Here’s our report on the previous review two years ago. See the packet here (PDF) or below:
This proposal is described as “a new 4-story building over a below-grade parking garage level with 32 apartment units, retail (cafe) space, and 14 enclosed parking stalls.” The site previously held an auto shop that has already been torn down. Thursday’s review will include a public-comment period, as will the next one:
(Rendering from packet by Cone Architecture)
4401 42ND SW: At 8 pm, the board will take its first look at this proposal for West Seattle Christian Church-owned property on the SW corner of 42nd and Genesee. See the packet here (PDF) or below:
This is an Early Design Guidance review, which means it centers on size/shape and placement on the lot, not design details. The project team’s “preferred option” would include 72 Small Efficiency Dwelling Units (microapartments), 6 live-work units, and 36 offstreet parking spaces, replacing a building that has in the past held classrooms and artist studios.
DEVELOPMENT: Southwest Design Review Board to see two more projects
We’ve already reported that 8854 Delridge Way SW is returning to the Southwest Design Review Board next month, two years after its first review. Now that SWDRB meeting has a second project, and the board will be convened two weeks later for yet another review.
First: On September 5th, when the SWDRB will see the South Delridge project at 6:30, that will be followed at 8 pm by their first look at 4401 42nd SW, proposed as “a 5-story apartment building with 72 small efficiency dwelling units and 6 live-work units (with parking) for 36 vehicles …”
Then at 6:30 pm September 19th, the board is now scheduled to consider the latest version of a project between 30th SW and Harbor SW, with the addresses 3252 30th Ave SW, 3315/ 3303/ 3257 Harbor Ave SW. This was reviewed by the board in April 2017 (WSB coverage here) and has site plans for 32 three-story rowhouse-style units. All meetings will be at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon) and will include public-comment periods.
DEVELOPMENT: Comment time for 5616 California SW
(Rendering by Cone Architecture)
The next round of design feedback is open for 5616 California SW, the townhouse/rowhouse proposal planned to replace a 94-year-old house next to C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). This project is going through Administrative Design Review, which means no public meetings (aside from the “early community outreach” gathering we covered last September). The proposal is for eight residential units and four offstreet-parking spaces, according to the packet by Cone Architecture (45 MB, PDF); the notice explains how to comment before the August 19th deadline. (Note that although the notice says this is “Early Design Guidance” feedback, the packet and city files indicate this is actually the “Recommendation” final round.)
DEVELOPMENT: 8854 Delridge Way headed back to Design Review Board after 2 years
The fire-damaged auto-shop building at Delridge/Henderson has long since been demolished, but the redevelopment plan for the site has idled – until now. The second Southwest Design Review Board meeting for the project at 8854 Delridge Way SW has just appeared on the board’s schedule, two years after the first one (WSB coverage here). The project is now described as “a 4-story apartment building with 18 small efficiency dwelling units, 14 apartments, and office space. Parking for 14 vehicles proposed.” The SWDRB meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm Thursday, September 5th, at the board’s usual meeting place, the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon). It will include a public-comment period.
SIDE NOTE: The project’s online file indicates that contaminated soil from the site – which also once held a gas station – was removed post-demolition.
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