West Seattle's Alki Lumber is heading for a complete metamorphosis. A fixture since it was founded in 1921 by the grandfather of the late Jim Sweeney, it has stood for generations as the kind of place you could always find what you were looking for and someone to help you find it. That spirit was practically fused into the walls of the iconic store by Sweeney, creating a special kind of loyalty. His passing in 2012 was marked by many tributes, including a small flag plaza just outside the store at 4440 Fauntleroy Way SW.

But while he was a businessman, he was also a visionary and saw the future of the land in the "Triangle" as something that would eventually be developed. Now his family will making his vision real.

They are looking at buiding on the site calliing it the Sweeney Blocks Redevelopment. It will be a 7-story, 492-unit apartment building complex with retail. There will be parking for 188 vehicles on site.

His daughter Lynn Sweeney said, "This project is very much being designed with his legacy in mind. He actually was the brain child for this concept before his passing."

She explained the design philosophy, "The buildings and common areas pay homage to the materials of the existing lumber yard in both texture, materials and form. Our concept includes an inviting boardwalk feature and other landscaping to provide spaces to wander and browse.  This "street market" concept is seen in neighborhoods in other cities around the world,  but not as much in Seattle so we are excited about bringing the idea to the Triangle. A connection between both buildings directly to Rapid Ride adjacent to the Aura apartments to the east is incorporated as well.

Lastly, and importantly,  there is retail space designated for Alki Lumber to continue our heritage, and will definitely incorporate the lasting memorial for my dad."

The design team and the Sweeney family are going in front of the design review in two separate meetings (Aug 6 and Aug 20); however, their approach to this redevelopment is to design a new streetscape encompassing the east and west sides of 36th. Their goal is to offer a destination shopping and dining core in the Triangle to support the growing neighborhood, additional housing and eventual light rail expansion and Avalon station.

"While there is a lot of uncertainty right now for West Seattleites in general, we remain optimistic that this project will ultimately be well-timed and a wonderful compliment to all the other great aspects West Seattle has to offer."

The development, given the fact that is designed to be so weighted on living spaces won't have room for the actual lumberyard, trucks, forklifts and warehouse on site.

"We are currently looking at new sites for all of those to serve the needs of the operation better than the current site. This isn't the first time we have relocated in our 100 year history, so we feel comfortable with the notion of moving things around," explained Lynn.

The meeting on the project is for the Design Review 

Early Design Guidance Meeting for project 3036079-EG

Webex Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/EDG2MtgProject3036079

Listen Line: 1-206-207-1700

Meeting Access Code: 146 275 8484

Speaker Sign In Sheet: https://bit.ly/EDG2SSUProject3036079