Area: WEST SEATTLE Address: 3417 HARBOR AVE SW

Project: 3034147-EG

Zone: C1-55 (M)

Applicant Contact: MICHELLE LINDEN - (206) 395-4392

SDCI Planner: CRYSTAL TORRES - (206) 684-5887

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Design Review Early Design Guidance for an 8-story,143-unit apartment building. Parking for 140 vehicles proposed. Existing building to be demolished.

MEETING INFORMATION

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2020 Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: West Seattle Senior Center, 4217 SW Oregon Street, Room: Hatten Hall

All meeting facilities are ADA compliant. Translators/interpreters provided upon request.

Call the Public Resource Center at prc@seattle.gov or (206) 684-8467 at least five business days prior to the meeting to request this service.

OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENT

During the early design guidance (EDG) phase of review, SDCI accepts written comments through March 4, 2020 on the site planning and design issues of this project. Submit all comments and requests to be made party of record to PRC@seattle.gov or City of Seattle – SDCI – PRC, 700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000, PO Box 34019, Seattle, WA 98124-4019.

PROCESS

A Design Review application for future development of this site has been submitted to the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI). The first phase of Design Review includes the (EDG) meeting. The following occurs at the meeting:

1. Presentation by the applicant about the site, vicinity and early massing design concepts.

2. Comments by the public regarding the design of the new development*

3. Deliberation by the Design Review Board providing design guidance and identifying significant Design Guidelines applicable to the design as it moves forward towards Master Use Permit (MUP) application.

*Please note that public comment at this meeting is limited to design considerations. (If environmental review is triggered, comments related to environmental impacts, such as traffic, parking, noise, etc. may be sent to SDCI following notice of that review.)

MORE INFORMATION: For more information regarding this application or the Design Review process, please visit the Design Review Program website at Design Review, contact the Land Use Planner listed above, or email the Public Resource Center at PRC@seattle.gov or visit the Public Resource Center at the address above.

Hours: 8 am to 4 pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and 10:30 am to 4 pm Tuesday and Thursday.

FULL DESIGN PROPOSAL DOWNLOAD

CONTEXT + SITE

The site is well served by transit in the north-south direction, providing connections to Alki, downtown Seattle, and beyond. Public bus, bicycle, and main vehicular routes are provided immediately adjacent to the site along Harbor Ave, with a pedestrian bike/walking path across the street on Harbor Ave. The pedestrian bike path on the east side of Harbor Ave also affords easy access to Alki and the passenger ferry terminal. There is a pedestrian hillclimb stair connecting the residential neighborhoods to the south. Bridge access is directly to the south, allowing quick vehicular and bus access to downtown Seattle.

The neighborhood is one in transition, with most of the new development occurring as new residential units. The majority of the commercial activity is across the street to the west and east in the industrial zone. On the opposite side of the site is smaller scale, single family residential neighborhood. The steep slope of the lot in the east/west direction provides opportunity for views across the industrial zone to the east, towards the Duwamish Waterway and the Downtown Skyline. It also allows for reduced massing in deference to the single family homes. The site will be shaded from the sun by the hillside to the west at varying times of day throughout the year. Morning sun will be most consistent throughout the day and year as there are no buildings or landscape immediately blocking the light.

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

This project proposes to create a transition node at one of the entries to West Seattle, acknowledging the site’s unique position adjacent to the West Seattle Bridge and between varying zoning scales.

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

objective 1: provide modulated massing to create a respectful transition between zones

objective 2: maximize light and views

objective 3: provide comfortable and economic housing for a growing neighborhood

PREFERRED SCHEME:

Scheme 3 is the preferred scheme that breaks up the building’s mass along 30th Ave, while providing a reduced bulk towards the southern edge of the property, and provides a landscaped courtyard element facing 30th Ave. The southern mass is shorter than the northern masses, helping to create a transition in building scale. The lobby is located at the southern corner, with garage access off of Harbor Ave on the north end of the site. The plan is also designed for efficiency with a double-loaded corridor with 140 units and 68 stacked parking stalls.

BENEFITS:

gestures towards the assumed corner shared with SPU property to the south.

responds to site topography, stepping with the slope in the N/S direction

locates the bulk of the massing away from the 30th Ave residential zone

larger courtyard allows for usable landscaped areas for increased eyes on the street

CONCERNS:

tallest portion of mass faces the adjacent neighboring building

POTENTIAL DEPARTURES:

sight triangle

exceptional tree

COMMUNITY OUTREACH INTEGRATION:

provide dog waste receptacles along 30th Ave

increased parking over code compliant proposal (44 stacked parking stalls in “hinge” scheme)

roof deck set back from edge of building

large landscaped courtyard encourages engagement with residents of 30th Ave

lower level terraces allow engagement while setting building back from property edge helps to maintain privacy of residential neighbors