The Port of Seattle will begin construction on a 25,000 square foot, gravel and dirt lot at the Shilshole Bay Marina to make it at least slightly usable while the they wait for a tenant for the site.

The Port of Seattle Commission voted unanimously March 10 to fund the landscaping, paving and lighting of the site that was originally intended for a second Anthony’s Restaurant.

Anthony’s pulled out of negotiations with the Port in late September due to the economic downturn, and the site has sat empty and fenced off since then.

The plan is to now make the site accessible and usable to the public while not constructing anything that would need to be demolished for future development or could hamper any development.

The project team said they hope to eventually see a restaurant on the site, though it will be three to five years minimum before that happens.

The project, which is not to cost more than $300,000, is scheduled to be completed before January 2010.