Instead of a monorail station, the Junction could be getting a new eight-story building with commercial space on the ground floor and 110 residential units above.

Harbor Properties presented preliminary plans for the multiuse project to the Southwest Design Review Board (formerly the West Seattle Design Review Board) last week. The building is planned for the west side of 42nd Avenue Southwest across the street from Jefferson Square, where the Petco parking lot is and the Chan Clinic used to be.

Harbor Properties, the company that built the Harbor Steps Apartments near the downtown waterfront, bought the Petco parking lot and the Chan Clinic next door with the highest bid of $4.5 million. It was among the first monorail properties sold. The Seattle Monorail Project paid $2.2 million for the site.

The architect is David Hewitt, whose firm designed the Harbor Steps Apartments downtown. Hewitt explained the proposal to the Design Review Board, stressing that the design is still conceptual and will be refined at a later stage. At this point of the process, board members concerned themselves with general issues such as bulk and scale.

The proposed building would have a courtyard in the center flanked by connecting eight-story wings that would reach eastward toward the sidewalk.

The new structure would have an underground parking garage for tenants.

Hewitt also talked about using design elements to somehow tie the project to another multiuse construction project planned about a half-block away, where a grocery store with several levels of housing above is planned on Alaska Street between 42nd and 41st avenues southwest.

Most members of the Design Review Board generally liked the preliminary design of the Harbor Properties project but they had some recommendations.

Board member Vlad Oustimovitch was concerned about how an eight-story building will fit in with the rest of the Junction's architecture, most of which currently consists of one- and two-story buildings. He said the project would have "two lives." It would be the tallest building on the block for awhile but ultimately other eight-story buildings will be built in the Junction. The majestic views would be shortlived so architects ought to design a building that will offer urban views, he said.

By city regulation, the new project is supposed to include open space on 20 percent of the site. Harbor Properties is seeking permission to have 10 percent because 16-foot setbacks are planned for the north and south sides of the building.

Oustimovitch recommended bringing the front commercial parts of the building up next to the sidewalk and setback the central tower of the building. Other board members agreed.

Board member Jeff McCord found the design attractive but the building looked liked it had been "plopped down," he said.

The preliminary design includes an arcade with columns along the front of the building.

"I have some apprehension about columns," said Deb Barker, another Design Review Board member. "I'm not sure West Seattle is a column place."

Oustimovitch told the architect there has been a long-term desire of West Seattle residents for more pedestrian passageways in the Junction, such as those found on the west side of California Avenue. He recommended Hewitt consider incorporating one in the Harbor Properties project that would connect 42nd Avenue to California Avenue.

Even though they shouldn't, people use Petco's front and back doors as an informal connection between the two streets, he said.

Terry Williams agreed it would be "a real mistake" to ignore the need for a public pass-through. He urged architects to pay more attention to the alley behind the project site.

Architect David Hewitt said he would think about a pedestrian passageway along the northern edge of the project.

Building more retail stores on 42nd Avenue would make the Junction more of a shopping "district" than just focusing on the stores lining California Avenue, Oustimovitch added.

Harbor Properties bought the Junction property because the development firm looks for opportunities in "vital neighborhood commercial areas," said Steve Orser, a company representative. The company sees a need for more "middle market" housing.

"We think the future of development is in such places," Orser said.

Tim St. Clair can be reached at tstclair@robinsonnews.com or 932-0300.