Five representatives for Safeway Corporation in Bellevue and their Seattle architect, Fuller/ Sears showed up at the Admiral Congregational Church basement Tuesday night for the Admiral Junction Association's Tuesday night, April 8 meeting. They plan to rebuild the 32,000 square foot Admiral Safeway but say they are at the very beginning stages.

City councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who lives in Alki, attended the meeting. Prior to the Safeway topic, he discussed his progress made with the Coast Guard on the lower West Seattle bridge proposal to stay down during rush hour. He then initiated a low-key question and answer session, and stayed to hear concerns about the Safeway development.

"We're here tonight to listen to your ideas," said Sara Corn with Safeway, who has been updating association president Mark Wainwright on its plans by email. "There are three very interested parties, the community, the DPD (Department of Planning and Development) and Safeway," she said. "We think we can come up with a plan to satisfy everybody."

Architect William Fuller displayed two easels with three aerial photographs of the current site, just under three acres.

Wainwright's wish list included some green space between the back of Safeway and Hiawatha Park to ease the transition from commercial to park grounds. "People could sit outside and eat and drink coffee with some greenery around. We have found this to be good for business," he said. Currently a pavement expanse separates Safeway's southern wall from Southwest Lander Street and Hiawatha Park.

He also voiced concerns about the need for more residences near the Junction as years go by, and hoped that homes would be integrated in an aesthetically pleasing way on Safeway's large footprint. Developer and architect, Brandon Nicholson, of Nicholson/Kovalchick, talked about the shortage of retail space at the Admiral Junction and urged the Safeway reps to consider business rentals on their site.

One resident pointed out that Holy Rosary sells Christmas trees in the cement lot behind Safeway and would hope that continues, and that a van that transports seniors parks back there while the passengers shop. "There is a lot of connectivity between the park and school that should be conserved," he said, adding, "We appreciate you hear tonight and you have been a good neighbor."

Fuller pointed out that some options discussed at the meeting were in the hands of the city. He explained, "There are lots of new dynamics regarding parking spaces with new city codes, like a certain amount of parking stalls are required before you have landscaping. We are listening to your wishes, but it's going to be one of those balancing acts."