The West Seattle Design Review Board was critical of plans for a seven-story, mixed-use development to be built across Alaska Street from Jefferson Square because they think it won't be pedestrian friendly.

Having no pedestrian entrances and few display windows for hundreds of feet along Alaska Street runs counter to the Junction's design guidelines, which recommend improving the pedestrian environment along Alaska Street. The design guidelines call for pedestrian-scale businesses on Alaska Street much like the stores on California Avenue.

The new development currently is designed with entrances only at 41st and 42nd avenues but not between. Even though the project has already gone through the city's design review process, some board members were still not happy at their June 14 meeting.

Design Review Board Chairman Jeff McCord explained that Jefferson Square, which is across the street from the proposed project, has no pedestrian entrances along Alaska Street either.

"We wanted to prevent that canyon effect," he said.

Kevin Wright from Hewitt Architects said designers would talk with QFC and Office Depot about additional entrances on Alaska Street.

Admiral resident Mark Wainwright said the proposed building would have a 200-foot blank face on Alaska Street. It needs an "activated fa