DEVELOPMENT: Demolition preps at 4508 California SW; land-use approval for 3201 SW Avalon

| Development | West Seattle news

Two development notes this norning:

4508 CALIFORNIA SW: Going through The Junction this morning, we noticed crews putting up scaffolding in front of the three vacated business spaces that comprise this about-to-be-built mixed-use building, indicating demolition is approaching. When approved in 2019, the project was described as 58 apartments, 12 lodging units, 17 underground parking spaces, and ground-floor commercial space; other details are in our coverage of its final design review. This will be the first construction project on California SW in the heart of The Junction since the two projects built last decade one block south.

3201 SW AVALON WAY: This week’s first city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin brought word of a key land-use approval for this 8-story, 144-unit mixed-use building with 70 off-street parking spaces, proposed to replace the Golden Tee Apartments. Project details are in our coverage of its final design review last September. This approval opens an appeal window – deadline to file one would be May 23rd; the official notice explains how.

DB40 May 10, 2022 (11:50 am)

Why does the City approve development at 3201 SW Avalon when the County hasn’t yet determined the ST3 route?

Ron Swanson May 10, 2022 (2:17 pm)

If it meets the zoning requirements you can’t stop the owners from building.The alternatives running alongside the expressway to Andover have turned out to be superior to running down Avalon/Genesee anyway, so it’s probably not going to be an issue.
Joe Z May 10, 2022 (2:46 pm)

Word on the street is that the city will be submitting a resolution in favor of the Yancy-Andover Medium Tunnel route.
- East Coast Cynic May 10, 2022 (4:29 pm)
  
  Will the city also submit a definitive funding source for said tunnel route since ST3 has a funding shortage issue?

MrsShaw May 10, 2022 (12:57 pm)

Actually it’s the board of (regional agency) Sound Transit who determines the ST3 route. But it’s still a good question.

Jeepney May 10, 2022 (1:01 pm)

“70 off-street parking spaces”.Which street(s)?

CarDriver May 10, 2022 (2:05 pm)

Alway’s entertained by the city’s belief that nobody will have a car or if they do, they will sell because there’s no off-street parking. Here in the real world the surrounding neighborhood will see an influx of new cars when these buildings are finished.

k May 10, 2022 (3:02 pm)

Which will be no big deal. People who are worried about having a place to park choose housing with included off street parking. People who don’t mind rolling the dice may not. New residents behaving the same way as existing ones (feeling entitled to street parking) is not a crisis, and is DEFINITELY not something the city should allow to influence zoning or building requirements.
- M May 10, 2022 (4:31 pm)
  
  Well said!
  - J A Beown May 23, 2022 (4:16 pm)
    
    Yes. Just like a developer (vs a resident or urban planner)
- cheeseWS777 May 10, 2022 (5:14 pm)
  
  We pay a ton of $ for a car, pay a ton of taxes and fees for having it, and a good portion of the time pay for parking wherever we may go. So why b confused or offended that we worry about finding a place to park? I myself dont think it will be a world ending thing either, but i am not bewildered that the issue gets brought up
  - bill May 10, 2022 (10:26 pm)
    
    Why should the rest of the taxpayers in the city be responsible for funding a storage space for your private property?
    - WS Resident May 11, 2022 (12:00 am)
      
      @Bill that’s just it- by not having the builder supply parking in the building, they are having the tax payers responsible for the parking, cos it will be on the public streets.
    - CarDriver May 11, 2022 (7:05 am)
      
      Bill. You have proof taxpayers aren’t funding YOUR private property?
  - J A Brown May 23, 2022 (4:19 pm)
    
    Agreed
- alki_2008 May 10, 2022 (11:17 pm)
  
  You know that sometimes having parking spaces near a home is helpful for having guests, as most people have friends or family or caregivers or babysitters that need to park for short periods of time. And it’s also to have parking nearby for delivery drivers or tradesmen, especially when those tradespeople need to go back-and-forth with their heavy tools.
  - J A Brown May 23, 2022 (4:21 pm)
    
    Hence, resident or urban planner design vs developer plan. The latter concerns stop at the bank.

DB40 May 10, 2022 (4:26 pm)

Also, note that garage entry/exit for 3201 Avalon is on Genesse, a very steep hill. Will be interesting when it’s raining. Slip, sliding around!

Auntie May 12, 2022 (9:58 am)

What about (albeit rare) snow closure of Genessee? I guess that’s when everyone will be hopping on the bus anyway.

Mike May 10, 2022 (9:43 pm)

Here come parking meters!

anonyme May 11, 2022 (9:59 am)

How telling that nearly every comment is about parking. Not a word about the impact of construction on the Junction, or the loss of/impact on businesses there. When the second major construction project begins soon on the next block, the Junction will be virtually inaccessible for a long time to come. As for parking meters, they’re long overdue everywhere. Cars will be a problem as long as there’s free parking and subsidized fossil fuel. No one has a ‘right’ to either.

alki_2008 May 13, 2022 (12:19 am)

What’s to comment about the construction? Should there not be any construction because it disrupts nearby homes/businesses? Local businesses are usually glad to have new residents brought into their proximity, because those residents increase their customer base. Short-term inconvenience for long-term gains. Parking impacts local businesses as well, because without parking spaces for residents then the parking will spread further and that will impede on parking for potential customers. When customers can’t find parking, then they’ll just get frustrated and go elsewhere.
J A Brown May 23, 2022 (4:29 pm)

and just when I thought you were focusing on quality of life issues for the future of the Junction as a ‘market place,’ and residential ‘town.’ I will miss the sunshine, always at a premium here in the NW, that invites pedestrians to stroll California Ave. This ‘detail’ is what’s of primary importance to me, along with the die-out of Ma/Pa creative businesses. Instead, we’re offered the mass, uniform-looking ‘we care about you’ corporate substitutes.Poor Seattle is becoming a corporate ‘re-build ‘of the city that had enough grit, the WTO had to start hiding its meeting & take-over dreams.
- Paul May 24, 2022 (10:23 am)
  
  Alright, we got it. Your solution is onerous, punitive design requirements and low-rise zoning to preserve sunshine, Ma/Pa creatives, and the look of a ‘residential town’. Never mind that this is in the main commercial district of the SW quadrant of the largest city in a metro of 4 million people. One that has seen an increase of 100k+ jobs in information technology in the last decade. Highly paid jobs. I’m not quite sure how on earth you come to the conclusion that Ma/Pa creative could ever continue to reside here, let alone operate or patronize businesses in this environment of scarcity. More likely one would see RE prices at least double what they are now. Look to Santa Barbara, they took the advice you are offering because they felt they’re quality of life was paramount of importance. Ma/Pa creatives were forced to abandon Santa Barbara for Texas and Arizona and now get plenty of sunshine!

bradley May 11, 2022 (10:31 am)

We don’t even bother going to the Junction any more. But I’m sure all the new apartment dwellers will fill the void.

Ron Swanson May 12, 2022 (9:18 am)

They are! That’s how cities work.
J A Brown May 23, 2022 (4:35 pm)

Sorry, truly, Bradley. You are the type that made the Junction a residential plaza, a place to live.Mr City, you might prefer New York. (Or can’t you afford that?)

J A Brown May 23, 2022 (4:45 pm)

PS Right now, as I am walking ‘The Junction,’ it’s treetops are taller than all but one building. As in Paris (where the law prohibits towering over the trees), there is that kind of attention to beauty and joy in one’s surrounds.I have had the joy of living 1/2 block off of California, at 44th, since the mid 2000s; and I have loved every minute of what’s seemed a time warp and hold over of the Seattle that earned the cursed ‘Most Livable City’ nod.All the development plus the kingdom plans of Gates, Bezos, Gregoire and Co. have fostered the current version and welcomed the ‘maturing’ of a beautiful town into a wanna-be New-York of the West. Hard to watch.

Sorry, comment time is over.