West Seattle, Washington
23 Saturday
What you see here on WSB isn’t always everything we spend the days and nights doing … there’s also our content streams on Facebook and Twitter … and we are blessed with plenty of phone calls and e-mail to answer. Often we handle questions that don’t ever turn into stories, because that’s just part of the job. But when more than a few people e-mail or call with the same question, that tends to be a hint it’s time to share the answer on the site too. So — We’ve heard from several people in the past week wondering what’s up (or not) with the Whole Foods (and Hancock Fabrics, and residential, etc.) development site at Fauntleroy/Alaska. Here’s what we know: Whole Foods’ regional spokesperson Vicki Foley told us recently that they will not have news any sooner than June, which is when she said their lease on this site expires. So at least until then, their official line is still, they remain committed, etc. Meantime, the big legal battle over the site itself is not yet resolved. (It’s been a year since we broke the news that the first suit had been filed – months after work at the site halted in late 2008.) There have been a few small rulings along the way – mostly involving whose claim has preference over whose, so there have been some “partial summary judgment” decisions, but the consolidated case is not yet resolved and has not yet gone to trial. We check the online file for the lawsuit almost every day, just in case something big happens; there are so many parties to the case, requiring multiple notifications every time any action is taken, that the file is REALLY big. As we wrote in September of last year, the note to the site is now held by 3922 SW Alaska LLC, which had moved at that time for “judicial foreclosure”; we haven’t found any evidence it’s happened yet.
Three items of West Seattle interest in today’s Land Use Information Bulletin from the city: First, the permit for a “sidewalk café” at Prost has been approved – we mentioned the application last month; here’s the notice that it’s been approved. Meantime, the future wine/beer bar Locöl (35th/Kenyon) has applied for permission to have an outdoor patio; we profiled Locöl and its proprietors here in January. And outside the beverage world, the land-use permit for Transitional Resources‘ new residential building on SW Avalon has been approved; that opens an appeal period, and anyone interested in how to do that can follow the links on the official notice.
By Johnathon Fitzpatrick
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
During the Junction Neighborhood Organization (JuNO) meeting Tuesday night, attendees were given a walk-through of the new guidelines that the city plans to use for the construction of new multifamily and commercial development.
Despite a cooling in the building construction industry, developers continue to move through Seattle’s Design Review process, including a community input period and a hearing before a community Design Review Board. Engaged West Seattle Junction residents are wanting to learn how to get involved as the process evolve, so they can keep up with developers.
The latest issue to get a round of public meetings organized by the city: “Creating a Great Central Waterfront.” One of the four meetings will be in West Seattle. Read on for the news release that just came in:Read More
This note came in from Sara Corn at Safeway’s local corporate HQ, after she read a discussion in comments following our full report on last night’s 5th and final Southwest Design Review Board meeting for the Admiral Safeway redevelopment. It seemed worth showcasing beyond just popping it into that comment thread.
Each of the [current Admiral Safeway] employees will be offered the opportunity to work in a different Safeway store in the Seattle Metro District during the time of construction. We understand this could be inconvenient for some, but years of planning could not yield a design that would allow the existing store to stay open during construction. It is one of the many reasons that we wanted to shorten the construction timeline to as short as possible. In addition, it is worth noting that the new store will employ 65-100 more employees than the current store employs, and the existing employees will have more hours available to them to work.
(Street-level rendering by Fuller Sears Architects, showing the middle of the new store’s California SW frontage)
We’re at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge, where a major development proposal has just reached a milestone: The Admiral Safeway redevelopment project has finished the Design Review process. The process is a two-meeting minimum for any project, but this was the 5th design-review meeting. Safeway plans to tear down the current store and moving a house on Safeway property behind it, building a larger new store, a small one-story retail building, and a residential/flex-work-units project on the 42nd SW side of the property. Only one issue remained for this last meeting – the new store’s California SW frontage – and it took less than an hour for the board to give its approval. Four board members were present, and only one was on the board when it started going through the Design Review process in September of 2008 (here’s our first report). They’re about to turn out the lights here in the Youngstown theater, as board members and development representatives wrap up post-meeting chat, so we’re moving back to HQ to finish the story. This isn’t the last review for the project overall – it still needs City Council approval for alley vacation (behind the current store) and partial rezoning. ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: Read on for the details of the meeting:Read More
To follow up on questions raised following our Wednesday afternoon report on the impending closure of a significant section of 23rd SW in North Delridge, we took them to SDOT‘s Marybeth Turner first thing this morning. She’s just replied with what you might call a fact sheet – read on to see it in its entirety (note the part about parking restrictions on other streets):Read More
That’s the proposed California SW side of the new Admiral Safeway store – the final part of the project that the Southwest Design Review Board needs to sign off on. They’re scheduled to meet this Thursday, 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, to look at the project for the 5th time, but you can preview the newest plan right now – we just discovered it’s available at the city’s Design Review website (click here – 12MB PDF) – the California side is shown on page 6 of that new “packet.” Note the additions include an ATM. The Safeway project’s also a regular topic of discussion for the Admiral Neighborhood Association, which happens to meet tonight, 7 pm, basement meeting room at Admiral Church (California/Hill). P.S. For comparison’s sake, here’s how the California side looked for the last meeting – it should be noted the changes are interior as well as exterior, since board members’ questions included what would be visible from the sidewalk as people walk past:
From this morning’s Land Use Information Bulletin, just sent by the city: First, key land-use approvals have been granted for 5020 California SW, a 91-residential-unit/4,000-sf-retail project south of The Junction, once being developed as “Spring Hill” (rendering at right) by BlueStar, the original Fauntleroy Place (Whole Foods etc.) developers, then foreclosed on last year, as reported here. The decisions are linked here; the contact listed for a project is a representative of Shoreline Bank, which owned the site (home to three vacant multifamily buildings) at last report, and put it up for sale last fall (reported here). – we have a message out to ask if they plan on proceeding, but in the meantime, the city documentation notes that anyone interested in appealing the new decisions has until February 22nd – how to do that is explained here. (P.S., before you ask, nothing major new on the Whole Foods site, just a continually growing sheaf of legal documents in the ongoing lawsuit – 269 separate documents; we check the file frequently.) 11:35 AM UPDATE: Just talked to Shoreline Bank’s contact re: 5020 California. He says they are pursuing the permits while continuing to offer the property for sale; the bank does NOT intend to develop the site itself.
Also from the land-use bulletin: The city has officially received the street-vacation petition for 46th Place SW (Google Street View map), as part of The Kenney‘s redevelopment. That means it’s time for public comments. The petition, and comment process, are explained here, on the notice.
We’ve mentioned it a couple times in the past week-plus – and now, the main event is under way. Thanks to Gregor for sharing that photo of the 118-foot construction crane going up at Harbor Properties‘ Link site along 38th between SW Alaska and Fauntleroy Way in The Triangle. We’ll check back on it later today. Meantime, over in The Junction business district, construction continues at TrueValue, which remains open during remodeling (“a face lift for a few weeks,” as its website describes the work):
Thanks to Karen for the photo. More morning sights: Not long after sunrise, an impressive fog bank drifted over the Sound:
Dave Gould shared that photo taken south of The Junction. One more eagle-eyed view – Alison spotted this bald eagle on a utility-pole perch near Denny International Middle School‘s playfield in Westwood:
Thanks so much to everyone who shares photos, news tips, and other updates – here are all the ways you can reach WSB 24/7.
Last week, the crane base rolled in; today, it’s time for the rest of the crane to show up at the site (38th/Alaska) where crews are building Harbor Properties‘ 200-apartment, 14,000-square-feet=of-retail Link in The Triangle. The crew told WSB’s Christopher Boffoli last week the crane will rise to 118 feet. Work on Link began in November, when the auto and school buildings on the site were torn down. (Thanks to Sharonn for pre-dawn word the crane had arrived as scheduled.) P.S. Just noticed Link finally has the stirrings of its own website. 1:04 PM UPDATE: Update from Emi Baldowin at Harbor: The installation won’t be completed till more of the crane arrives Monday.
THE KENNEY: From last night’s Morgan Community Association meeting (full report to come) – A West Seattle consultant working on the retirement center’s redevelopment project says they’re working toward having its next Design Review meeting in early March (no date formally set yet). The latest comment period for the proposal is open until Feb. 3; the consultant says the project team is looking at all the comments as they come in – “We just went (downtown) and picked up another batch (Wednesday), 16 more.” He says traffic and parking concerns are generating the most comments right now.
ADMIRAL SAFEWAY: The lone West Seattle item on today’s Land Use Information Bulletin from the city finalizes the Design Review meeting date first noted here a week ago – 6:30 pm February 11, Youngstown Arts Center. Here’s the official notice.
For the first time in almost a year, there’s a construction crane in the Junction/Triangle area. Last one to leave was at Capco Plaza (here’s our February 2009 report). Before that, the crane for Harbor Properties’ Mural (WSB sponsor) left in November 2008. And today, the crane’s going up for Harbor’s next project – Link, along 38th between Fauntleroy and Alaska. WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli spotted it a little while ago, and got some information from the crew: The base will be set around 11, with its bottom “probably at least 30 feet below grade. So it will probably take them a couple of hours to get enough pieces of crane in place so that it stands out over the other buildings.” And he asked the big (literally) question: How tall will this crane be? 118 feet. More numbers: Link will have 200 apartments and 14,000 square feet of retail space; its construction began in November, with demolition of the auto and school buildings that were on the site. 12:38 PM UPDATE: Checked with Emi Baldowin at Harbor. They are putting up the crane base today but the rest of the crane is scheduled to go up on January 28th.
Today marks exactly one year since the landmark Alki Homestead restaurant caught fire in the early morning; Fire Department investigators traced the fire to faulty Christmas lights. No one was hurt, but the beloved restaurant has been closed ever since. What happens on the site next will require approval of the city Landmarks Preservation Board, because of the Homestead’s status as a city landmark. Working with a team of experts who say the structure is too damaged for restoration, Homestead owner Tom Lin has been working on a proposal to instead reconstruct it and add other structures on the site, as first outlined in a presentation to the Alki Community Council in September (WSB coverage here), then brought to the Landmarks Board’s Architectural Review Committee in November (WSB coverage here). The Landmarks Board will have to have a full hearing before voting on whether to approve the development proposal; no date has been announced yet. The project will also require Southwest Design Review Board approval, according to the permit applications recently filed with the city Department of Planning and Development. Here’s the land-use-permit page, summarized as “reconstruction of Fir Lodge/Alki Homestead Restaurant”; here’s the construction-permit page, which summarizes the proposal as “Reconstruct restaurant and structure, remove existing surface parking and add below grade parking, commercial/retail space, and a small inn,” same as outlined in the September and November presentations.
Just last night, the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s monthly meeting (story still in the works) included a recap of where the Admiral Safeway redevelopment project stands. It was asked at the time if anyone knew the date for the next Southwest Design Review Board meeting on the project – which is supposed to focus on the last point of board concern, the new store’s California SW frontage; the date wasn’t posted last night but it is now, on the city’s Design Review/Upcoming site: February 11th. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center; it could be the last SWDRB meeting on the project if board members give their approval. (Like The Kenney‘s redevelopment on the other end of West Seattle, this project also includes a rezoning request, so it will also require City Council approval along the way.)
Thanks to Cindi Barker from Morgan Community Association for the update that the city has granted a request to extend the comment period for The Kenney‘s redevelopment-rezoning request, reported here earlier this week. The comment period now will be held open till February 3rd; the notice posted online includes a link you can use to send in your comment(s). The Kenney project also will be discussed at the quarterly MoCA meeting next week (as noted here last night).
As pointed out by Cindi Barker in the latest Morgan Community Association bulletin, The Kenney has now officially applied for the “contract rezone” it needs to carry out the current redevelopment plan (above), which the online notice summarizes:
Council Land Use Action to contract rezone 228,490 sq. ft. of land from LDT & L3 to MR and to allow a 387,450 sq. ft. expansion to an existing independent living apartment, assisted living and nursing home facility (The Kenney). Project includes three, 4-6 story multifamily structures containing 202 independent living apartments, 112 assisted living units, and 35 skilled nursing units. Parking for 279 vehicles to be provided below grade. Project includes 57,681 cu. yds. of grading and street vacation (46th Pl SW). Existing landmark building (Seaview) to be modified and relocated on site. Ten existing multifamily structures to be demolished.
A “contract rezone” means that a site would be rezoned under specific terms for a specific proposal, and, like any zoning change, requires City Council approval. Comments on the proposal are being accepted through January 20th; the online notice has a link for submitting them. As for the status of the project overall, here’s our October report on its most recent Southwest Design Review Board meeting – at least one more SWDRB meeting is still required for final approval. The date for that is not set yet. It’s been almost a year and a half since our first report on the project at The Kenney; all WSB coverage is archived here (newest to oldest).
An update tonight on the 2-year fight over what can be built on the expansive front lawn of the Satterlee House, the 103-year-old city landmark that’s also known as the Painted Lady of Beach Drive: The attorney for the Satterlee House’s owner says they’re taking the fight to the next venue – the state Supreme Court. This follows a series of rulings against the specific 3-home plan that Conner proposes for the land in front of the house: First, the city Landmarks Preservation Board rejected the proposal two years ago, saying the proposed homes’ size and scale would take away from the landmarked traits of the site. Conner appealed the decision to the city Hearing Examiner, who upheld it in April 2008; then he asked King County Superior Court to review the decision, where it again was upheld; from there it went to the state 1st Division Court of Appeals, which heard oral arguments last June, and then announced on December 21st that it too upheld the previous decisions. Next potential step was asking the state Supreme Court to review the case, and tonight the lawyer who’s led the case for Conner all along the way, Richard Hill, confirms to WSB, “Yes, the Conners intend to ask the Washington Supreme Court to review the Court of Appeals decision.” We’ll watch the court records and keep tabs on what happens next; as we reported after last month’s ruling, the case has drawn national attention.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
This week’s state Appeals Court ruling does not necessarily end the two-year fight over a three-house development proposal for the lawn of the city-landmark Satterlee House at 4866 Beach Drive (map). Owner William Conner can request a discretionary review by the state Supreme Court. His lawyer, Richard Hill, told WSB after the decision was announced (WSB coverage here), “We will be studying the Court’s ruling, and Mr. Conner will then decide whether or not to appeal.” In the meantime, the ruling (read it here) has drawn national attention: It could have nationwide significance, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Pacific Legal Foundation, which both had filed “friend of the court” briefs in the case, NTHP supporting the city, PLF supporting the property owner. More ahead:Read More
(Photo added 12:37 pm, looking toward north side of lot, from SW Yancy westbound)
Thanks to Mike for spotting this one, which online records indicate just went on the market yesterday: The long-abandoned 4-townhouse project at 30th/Avalon/Yancy (map) – fenced-off concrete and rebar at a high-traffic site, inactive for months – is now listed for sale. Here’s the $300,000 listing, which describes the parcel as “bank-owned.”
Just back from the two-part Southwest Design Review Board meeting at Youngstown Arts Center. The easy part is the report on the Transitional Resources residential expansion on Avalon: It was approved to move along out of the DR process, with just a few concerns, such as a suggestion that the upper floor plan from the alternative option – including a different alignment for the elevator tower – be incorporated into the recommended plan. Not much controversy, no public opposition, the meeting didn’t even take the full potential hour-and-a-half timeslot. The second part – the fourth Design Review meeting on the Admiral Safeway project – was more contentious and complicated. Bottom line, the project is not done with Design Review yet – it will have to come back for a fifth meeting – but just specifically for another look at the west side of the store along California SW – the biggest concern, board members want to see more entrances on that side; it originally had none between the store’s main entrance and a door at California/Lander, then one was added for the Starbucks stand midway down California, but board members say that’s not enough. Full details, including other concerns they want the final design to address, in our second report, later Friday.
All’s been somewhat quiet in meeting-land, with the holiday season leading many groups to take December off. But not the two that are meeting today/tonight:
ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT SOUTH PORTAL WORKING GROUP, which is working on VERY West Seattle-relevant issues centering on how the south end of the planned tunnel ties into the transportation grid, meets 4 pm at Puget Sound Regional Council‘s board room, 1011 Western (map) …
SOUTHWEST DESIGN REVIEW BOARD looks at the Admiral Safeway redevelopment project at 8 pm (here’s our preview with the link to the proposal that’ll be reviewed) after Transitional Resources‘ new residential building at 6:30 pm (here’s the corresponding link); both meetings are at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center …
Also tonight, the WEST SEATTLE BIG BAND‘s Holiday Concert fills Grace Church (map) with music, 7 pm …
And one note from outside West Seattle – but maybe near your workplace or somewhere outside WS you’re going today/tonight – the Jimmy John’s sandwich chain is donating all Puget Sound PROCEEDS (as in, 100% of sales) today to the murdered Lakewood Police officers’ families’ fund. Here’s where to find local locations – Pioneer Square looks like the closest.
Though the King County Council appointment drama isn’t over yet, and we’re not leaving the courthouse till it is, we’re moving on to add some more news to the site while they continue meeting behind closed doors: This Thursday night, the Southwest Design Review Board takes up two projects in a meeting at Youngstown Arts Center. Last week, the design proposal for the 6:30 pm review, the new Transitional Resources building, became available at the city website, as we reported here; tonight, the packet for the 8 pm review, the Admiral Safeway redevelopment project, is available – you can download it here (20 MB PDF). This could be the final review for what Admiral Neighborhood Association leaders call “maybe the biggest development project in this neighborhood, ever,” if board members give the plan their blessing.
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