A citizen-led effort to save another longtime community gathering place got a boost last week when the new owners of the Sunset Bowl property agreed to consider incorporating a bowling alley into its development plans, which would demolish the 30-year-old local landmark.

Brian Fritz, vice president of development for AvalonBay Communities, said his company is willing to look at the idea, but "can we do it? I have no idea," he said.

"I don't want anyone to think that we are guaranteeing anything," said Fritz. "At this point in time I don't know enough to guarantee anything."

Fritz said Avalon might hire a consultant to see if it would work financially.

"We are definitely open to considering a bowling operation in our development," said Fritz. "We're not bowling operators, per say ... but we are open to learning about what it will take."

Avalon will also evaluate whether the bowling alley could remain open for business until they are ready to break ground, which is scheduled for summer 2009. But Fritz said the day-to-day operations would have to be managed by the community.

At least for now that could spare the jobs of Sunset's approximately 50 employees, several of which have worked there for decades.

Sunset Bowl, which opened its 26 lanes and diner in January 1957, was sold earlier this year to the Bellevue-based company for a little more that $13 million. It was scheduled to close in April to make way for a mixed-use apartment building, but some community members launched an effort to save the bowling center.

Jim Bristow, a local independent contractor, and yes, a bowler, has championed the effort, circulating dozens of petitions. More than 2,500 Ballard residents have signed their support.

After weeks of trying to reach AvalonBay representatives, last week Bristow finally got the call he'd been waiting for.

"Avalon was exceptionally friendly and open to working with us to keep the bowling alley open at this time," he said.

But Fritz said there's a "delicate balance" between residential and commercial aspects of mixed-use buildings. For instance, it would be difficult to manage a 24-hour commercial operation on the ground floor of a residential building. There's also parking requirements to consider, which encompasses a large part of building costs.

"We need to understand the physical requirements of a bowling alley," said Fritz.

The bowling alley, at 1420 N.W. Market St., is to some Ballardites a testament to a familiar, yet fading, landscape now being replaced with high-rise condominiums.

Seattle City Council member Sally Clark, who met with Bristow last week, said the effort to save the bowling alley stems from a growing frustration of seemingly unstoppable neighborhood change in a market driven economy.

Ballard isn't the only neighborhood affected by the escalation of land costs and big development, said Clark, chair of the council's planning and land use committee.

One example is the Odd Fellows Hall in the Pike/Pine neighborhood. For decades, the hall has served as a home to several arts organizations and small businesses but was sold last year to a local developer for much more than it had been worth in the past. It's changing the rent structure and squeezing out long-time tenants.

Now, Bristow is working out a plan to secure a working staff and buy the bowling equipment from the previous owner before it's auctioned off. That would run several thousand dollars and he's not sure where those funds would come from yet.

Bristow's Save the Sunset Bowl group may also look for property elsewhere in Ballard to house the bowling alley if it doesn't work out with Avalon. A sustainable builder, Bristow said it would be ideal to incorporate a solar powered roof and "make it a real example of a true green business."

Figuring out how to preserve the Sunset Bowl has taken up more of Bristow's time and energy than he expected. On return from a recent vacation to South America, jetlagged and tired, his first stop wasn't home, but the bowling alley to get an update from the employees.

Whether or not he's successful, Bristow said his efforts might just have the intended effect; to bring a changing community a little closer together.

"People are realizing that one person can start a movement," he said. "It's not about bowling, it's about getting together."

Rebekah Schilperoort may be reached at 783.1244 or rebekahs@robinsonnews.com