An open letter has been sent to the Seattle Capital Corporation from the SouthWest District council and endorsed by eleven community groups in West Seattle noting the community concerns over the Fauntleroy Place construction site. It was to be the new home of Whole Foods but the project stalled and lawsuits were filed. The Fauntleroy Place development plans call for a six to seven story building with 184 residential units above 65,160 square feet of retail space. Anchor tenants were to include Whole Foods and Hancock Fabrics. The now tentative plans call for 484 parking stalls.
The site has sat in its current state since December of 2008.

Seattle Capital Corporation
Attn: Robert E. Story, Jr.
190 Queen Anne Avenue, #100
Seattle, WA 98109

Re: Community concerns over Fauntleroy Place construction site

Dear Mr. Story:

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter; it is representative of the sentiments of a large number of West Seattle community organizations, our constituents, and the general community of West Seattle who we endeavor to represent.

Our concern is over the condition, esthetics and most importantly the safety of the now stalled Fauntleroy Place construction project site. The current fencing is an unappealing chain link that presents an unwelcoming presence at what is essentially the gateway to our West Seattle neighborhood. It is also a serious safety hazard to have temporary fencing protecting vehicles and pedestrians from a 4-story drop at one of West Seattle’s busiest intersections. In addition, parts of the sidewalk do not meet ADA standards. And finally, the area of landscaping on the corner named Triangle Park (as described on page 48 of the West Seattle Junction Neighborhood Plan) was created with community time, resources and pride. This park is haphazardly surrounded with chain link fence and is subsequently overgrown which only adds insult to injury.

We are all struggling during these trying times. We are trying to keep our businesses open, we are trying to keep our homes and neighborhoods attractive and welcoming, and we are trying to build a future where West Seattle emerges prosperous and revitalized. The reaction that residents, visitors and retail shoppers are having to your site – as expressed to us as by the community – is that of seeing urban blight and neglect at the heart of our neighborhood.

We hope the future of West Seattle will include a complete and successful Fauntleroy Place project. The majority in our community were eagerly anticipating the addition of your residents and retail, as evidenced by the primarily positive community response to your proposed project at the Design Review Board meetings.

The above prefaces our request that you please take steps to make your project site more appealing and safe during the time it remains fallow. At a minimum, we are requesting a screening fence, a vehicle barrier, at least 4 feet of continuous sidewalk clearance to meet ADA standards, and the fencing removed from Triangle Park. We would welcome a dialogue with the responsible party from your organization regarding how to put these requests into motion.

We hope to resolve this amicably before West Seattle Summer Fest (July 9, 10, 11) which is the first of several community summer events.

At the April 7th Southwest District Council meeting, the following council members voted unanimously to submit this letter:

Admiral Neighborhood Association
Alki Community Council
Fairmount Community Association
Fauntleroy Community Association
Junction Neighborhood Organization (JuNO)
Morgan Community Association (MoCA)
Ocean View Community Beach Club
Senior Center of West Seattle
Southwest Seattle Historical Society/Log House Museum
West Seattle Chamber of Commerce
West Seattle Junction Association

The letter also endorsed by Harbor Properties, Inc.

Thank you for your attention to this very important matter.

Sincerely,

Erica Karlovits, Co-Chair Chas Redmond, Co-Chair
Southwest District Council Southwest District Council