With the proposed Fauntleroy Place project planned for one of West Seattle's most prominent intersections, a member of the West Seattle Design Review Board wondered how come architects didn't design an attention-getting architectural feature that could be seen for blocks in every direction.

The new six-story development is planned with 185 apartments, a Whole Foods Market, a Hancock Fabrics and a large underground parking garage. It's to be built on the northwest corner of the intersection of Alaska Street, Fauntleroy Way and 39th Avenue Southwest. The developer is Northwest Resource Management Group.

Design Review Boards exist in neighborhoods throughout Seattle. They provide a public forum to discuss and critique the designs of mixed-use, multifamily housing and commercial developments. Board members evaluate designs based on citywide and neighborhood-specific guidelines.

The architects of Fauntleroy Place propose building a 30-foot circular entry with outdoor public seating. Steps would lead down to the entrance to Whole Foods Market.

"Why make a negative space rather than positive at 39th and Alaska?" asked Design Review Board member Catherine Benotto, meaning why a courtyard and not a more imposing structure. "It's such a prominent intersection and can be seen from a long way."

The architects replied they wanted to invite the public into the new project with the courtyard so they will feel welcome. It would have about 1,000 square feet of seating area.

Terry Williams, an architect and former West Seattle Design Review Board member, helped write the design guidelines for the Junction along with Junction residents, property owners and merchants. The guidelines call for corners to have low-rise buildings and pedestrian amenities to create "people spaces," he said.

"The intent (of the guidelines) was to open up the corners," Williams said.

A courtyard for Fauntleroy Place residents is planned on the second level of the new development.

Architects also pointed out that each apartment will have its own balcony. Combined with the planned courtyards, they hope the balconies will provide enough outdoor space to meet the city's open-space requirements.

The developers also want to remove the alley behind Hancock Fabrics, but the city requires such action must result in a public benefit which, in this case, would be the public courtyard.

Some Design Review Board members were concerned about a proposal for an unloading area for Whole Foods Market delivery trucks planned off of 40th Avenue Southwest. The developer wants to widen the mouth of 40th Avenue where it comes off Alaska Street to give large trucks adequate room to maneuver in and out of the grocery loading area.

Some of the people who live on 40th Avenue turned out for the Design Review Board meeting to remind board members it is a residential street with many vehicles parked along its curbs. Some worried about even tighter parking to come. One man warned of an endless parade of cars on 40th Avenue, circling the block looking for parking spaces.

The city informed the developers it would not allow a new entrance to Fauntleroy Place from Alaska Street. Vehicles will enter the large underground parking garage from side-by-side entrances off 39th Avenue near the West Seattle Bowl. One motor entrance will be for residents of Fauntleroy Place and the other will be for shoppers.

People reminded the developers of Triangle Park, the sliver of landscaping that exists next to the busy intersection, and urged that its plants be saved.

Hancock Fabrics will occupy the western end of Fauntleroy Place with its main entry at 40th and Alaska. There will be a few stairs and a ramp down to the covered entrance.

Hancock Fabrics also will have a 10-car, ground-level customer parking lot off 40th Avenue.

Another design issue at the meeting was what to do along the Alaska Street side of the new development. Some people at the meeting urged developers to create a more hospitable feeling for pedestrians there. The plan is to replace the existing sidewalk along the new building's south wall but specifics remain to be worked out.

Tim St. Clair can be contacted at 932-0300 or tstclair@robinsonnews.com