In fall 2009, Washington Federal Savings announced its proposal for a new building at its Market Street site. Now that those plans appear headed for approval, the owner of the neighboring Carnegie's Restaurant is accusing the Seattle Department of Planning and Development, as well as Carnegie Free Public Library and Washington Federal Savings, of duping the public.

Jerry Brahm, owner of Carnegie's Restaurant, is alleging the designs presented at two public Design Review meetings are not accurate reflections of what will actually be built, and the reality will harm both his business and the historic nature of the Carnegie building.

"It's a lot more than the public knows is going on," Brahm said. "They deserve to know the truth."

Washington Federal Savings, located at 2020 N.W. Market St., has proposed a two-story, 8,400-square-foot building to replace its current building. The project also includes redevelopment of the rear parking lot to include drive-through tellers.

Because of the specific expectations for the final designs of the project laid out by the Northwest Design Review Board at an April meeting, it appears likely to be approved by the Department of Planning and Development without a third Design Review meeting, said Scott Ringgold, the department's planner on the project.

Brahm said the plans shown at the Design Review meetings are inaccurate. He said he has been shown different designs for the project.

He said the owners of Carnegie's Free Public Library and Washington Federal Savings are planning to tear out a third of the Carnegie lawn to replace it with a cobblestone patio and make changes to the walkway between the two buildings.

At the final Design Review meeting in April, the Northwest Design Review Board focused heavily on the midblock walkway between the Carnegie building and Washington Federal Savings. The board encouraged the owners of the two buildings to come to an agreement to enhance the pedestrian experience of walkway and make it accessible under the American with Disabilities Act.

Karoline Morrison, owner of the Carnegie building, said she and her husband, Dennis Deals, are in talks with Washington Federal Savings about the treatment of the walkway, which is on Carnegie property, but no agreement has been reached.

Morrison said working with the bank on the project has been great, and she is looking forward to a brick wall with nice lighting to replace the current blank wall, which is a haven for graffiti.

"The outcome of this will have a great impact for all of Market Street," she said.

Chris Gunter, Washington Federal Savings' architect at ehs Design, said no decisions on the treatment of the walkway have been formalized yet, but he is sure there will be an announcement from the city when all parties have come to an agreement.

The city is required to post the approved designs for public comment before the project can receive its Master Use Permit.

As for replacing one-third of the Carnegie lawn with a patio, Morrison said there was a previous plan to replace the portion of the lawn used for seating by Carnegie's Restaurant with a patio, but that space is on the other side of the site and has nothing to do with bank's redevelopment.

In addition to changing the character of the Carnegie building, Brahm said an agreement between the building's owners and Washington Public Savings to allow the bank to use a portion of the Carnegie site during construction will have dire consequences for his business.

Brahm said construction could take up to a year, and during that time his restaurant would take a huge hit, especially in the number of weddings and business meetings it books.

Ringgold said it is common for two property owners to come to a private agreement on construction staging.

Morrison said there will be a temporary walkway on Carnegie property during construction, as Washington Federal Savings will be using the current walkway site, but there will still be access to Carnegie's Restaurant from Market Street.

She said she hopes to work out any inconvenience with the restaurant, and in the end, the improvements will benefit everyone.

Brahm said the ultimate goal of the owners of the Carnegie building is the removal of Carnegie's Restaurant, replacing it with a Starbucks wine bar.

Morrison said she had been in talks with Starbucks, which was interested in the space for a beer and wine bar, but the company backed out eight months ago.

"There are no plans for anything than what is there now," Morrison said.

For more information on the prosed Washington Federal Savings development, click here.