The Howden-Kennedy Funeral Home has been helping grieving families put their loved ones to rest in West Seattle since 1920, and with news that a massive apartment/retail project is coming to the Fauntleroy Triangle and taking over the land where they reside, the future of West Seattle’s oldest funeral home was in limbo.

That’s until now.

Stuart Johnston, office manager at Howden-Kennedy, confirmed the family-owned business will move to 7601 35th Ave. S.W. (just south of Mars Hill Church, at the intersection of 35th and S.W. Ida St) over the next handful of months. They are required to be out of their Triangle location by Sept. 1.

Their new location is comprised of a private residence and barber shop and Johnston said a brand new facility will eventually be built at the location, but wished to assure the community there will be no disruption in services. Ownership, phone numbers, services, existing contracts … all will remain the same.

“We’ve been part of West Seattle for 70 years (as Howden-Kennedy) and that’s the way we want to stay, supporting West Seattle families,” Johnston said.

Apartment developer Lennar Multifamily Investors bought most of the block at 4755 Fauntleroy Way S.W. in 2012 for $17.9 million in preparation for building a six-story, 370 apartment complex with a Whole Foods grocery store, drug store, and other retail. The building will also have underground parking for 570 vehicles. According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, Lennar paid the Huling family $12.9 million for their portion of the block and paid Kennedy Family Limited Partnership close to $5 million for their land. Lennar is working in conjunction with Weingarten Realty on the project being designed by Fuller Sears Architects.

The funeral home, a Shell gas station and a bygone Huling dealership will be demolished to make room, with only the Alki Masonic Center at 4736 40th Ave. S.W. staying put.

While the project is still a ways out (expected completion is 2015) as developers work through the design review and alley vacation process with the City of Seattle, Howden-Kennedy was told they need to move out by September, prompting the search for a new spot.

Howden-Kennedy started out as the Daniels and Brinton West Seattle Mortuary on California Ave. in 1920. It was moved to 3909 S.W. Alaska St. in 1941, where it has stood until now, according to the company’s printed history. Lorne Howden and Dick Kennedy purchased the business in 1954 and changed the name. After Dick and Arlene Kennedy retired, they started a business relationship with Russ and Doug Weeks, who kept the Howden-Kennedy name intact.