The Northwest Design Review Board agreed to let the new Washington Federal Savings project move on to the recommendation phase after an Oct. 12 early design guidance meeting, but said they wanted to see a simpler design that fits in on Market Street and shows proper deference to the distinctive Carnegie's building next door.

The preferred design of the new Washington Federal Savings building presented by ehs Design is a two-story, 8,400-square-foot building. It is 40 feet tall instead of the maximum 65 feet. It includes surface parking and drive-up tellers on Northwest 56th Street.

The design for the building at 2020 N.W. Market St. includes a sloping roof meant to mirror that of the Ballard Public Library and Neighborhood Service Center.

The Design Review Board urged the developers to simplify the design into more of a background building, such as the Majestic Bay Theater or La Tienda building on the same block. A simpler design would allow the building to act as a bookend to the historic Carnegie's building as the current Washington Federal Savings building does and not distract from it.

The board was also concerned with the public walkway on Carnegie's property that connects 56th Street and Market Street between the two buildings. They said they want developers to pay close attention to the pedestrian experience on that path.

The board also wants developers to look at the design of the drive-up teller structure and the way the surface parking interacts with 56th Street from a pedestrian standpoint.

The owner of the Carnegie's building attended the meeting and said she was disappointed in the design. She would like to see Washington Federal Savings build a canopy onto her property to cover the pedestrian walkway.

The owner of the Market Street Traders building on the east side of the Federal Savings building also expressed disappointment in the design. She said the "chimney" feature that faces her building in the design interrupts the flow of the block and will block light to her second floor.

Developers of the Washington Federal Savings Building will return to the Design Review Board with a revamped design in the coming months to get a Master Use Permit for the project.