A Land Use application has been filed with the City of Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections to allow a 5-story, 48-unit apartment building with retail. Parking for 28 vehicles proposed. The Early Design Guidance Review conducted under number 3036524-EG.

SDCI PROJECT NO.: 3036383-LU 3036384-LU 3036524-EG

From the Design Proposal:

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

This proposal includes a five-story mixed-use residential building with on-site parking and ground-floor commercial space. Twenty-eight parking stalls are proposed below grade despite no minimum parking requirement. The street frontage will be comprised of ground level commercial space along 18th Ave SW and Delridge Way SW. Parking access is proposed along the alley while the residential access is proposed on the northwest corner of the site along 18th Ave SW. The development aims to become a welcomed addition to the neighborhood and a desirable place to call home for dozens of new neighbors. The objective is to create an aesthetically pleasing space that also functions for the neighborhood and its residents in equal measure.

SITE DESCRIPTION & ANALYSIS

The site is comprised of three parcels on the northeast of the intersection of Delridge Way SW and 18th Avenue SW. Existing single family residences have been removed. The lot has a minimal slope with the alley sloping down roughly two feet from north to south and the sidewalk along 18th Ave SW is relatively flat. The site is located in an area of increasing density and is transitioning to more mixed-use development with the Westwood Village being located just a few blocks west of the site. A small green space, known as the Delridge Triangle, is located west of the site across 18th Ave SW and pedestrian passage to the green space is commonly accessed along Delridge Way SW. Five-foot wide sidewalks currently line Delridge Way SW and 18th Avenue SW and are proposed to be brought up to current SDOT standards for width and location. Overhead powerlines run down Delridge Way SW, 18th Avenue SW, and the alley and further impact the proposed designs due to powerline setback requirements. Existing trees on site are to be removed, and new street trees per SDOT standards are to be provided on Delridge Way SW and 18th Ave SW.

ZONING ANALYSIS

As of early 2019, the site has been upzoned from C1-40 to NC3-55 (M). This means that the site has a maximum building height of 55’ and mandatory housing affordability (MHA) standards are in effect. Multifamily residential and commercial uses are allowed as well as on-site parking. However, no parking is required due to the site’s location in the Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village and its proximity to public transportation routes. See ‘Zoning Data’ on page 25 for more specific information.

TRANSPORTATION

Delridge Way SW is a principle arterial that serves multiple bus routes. Route 60 provides access to downtown Seattle while route 128 provides local access in West Seattle south towards Southcenter. 18th Avenue SW is a local access street with no bus routes. There are designated bicycle lanes on 16th Avenue SW connecting to a shared bike/bus/ auto lanes on Delridge Way SW. SDOT is planning on constructing dedicated bike lanes on Delridge Way SW.

NEIGHBORHOOD DESIGN

The surrounding neighborhood has some common building typologies. To the east and northeast of our site is primarily 3-story townhouses. To the southwest across Delridge Way SW is primarily single family homes. 1-story retail is also a predominant typology found in the area starting from White Center and continues up north along Delridge in a less concentrated manner. Some newer 4-story mixed-use apartments with more modern aesthetics have recently been developed just to the northwest along Delridge. The mixed-use structures, both new and old, are mostly low-rise and vary between one-story to four-stories tall. With the exception of local churches the proposed project with its recent upzone will be the tallest building in the near vicinity.