A new Ballard development moved one step closer to reality last Monday. The city's Northwest Design Review Board approved a proposal for a mixed-use building at the site of a vacant lot between Sunset Bowling Alley and Burger King on NW Market St. east of 15th Ave. NW during a preliminary review meeting. The approval was only an initial but required step before construction on the project begins.

The proposed six-story building would have 28 residential units, a retail space, a live/work unit, and underground parking for residents. Runberg Architecture Group and Stannard Architects are collaborating on the project.

The development would be the first multi-story building in the vicinity east of 15th Ave. NW.

"Since 2003, probably five mixed-use projects have gone up west of 15th," said Stacy Smedley, the project manager and an architect with Runberg. She added that there is "only so much land that can be developed on the west side... As soon as one area's full, you move across the street."

The area to the east is "underutilized", according to Smedley, and development will move in that direction. The vicinity of the proposed site is zoned for 65', but is occupied by one- and two-story buildings now.

"[There is] a lot of room to grow up," Smedley said.

Both the Board and the designers saw the building as setting a precedent for the future development of the area.

"I know this is kind of a devastated part of Ballard as far as character goes, but I'm thinking in the future of this becoming a much more vibrant part of the community," said Guy Peckham, the Board's Local Residential Representative, during the meeting.

Though the meeting was open to the public, no residents were in attendance.

"...it wasn't a typical meeting because no public attended," said Lucas DeHerrera, the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) representative at the meeting. The design review board, one of seven such boards geographically divided around the city, consisted of DeHerrera and five citizens appointed by the mayor. The Design Review Program was created in 1994 as a way to involve citizens, developers and the city in the review of new development projects.

The property slated for development is owned by Jerrold Bailet, who owns a handful of smaller residential properties in central and north Seattle. According to King County's Assessor Property Characteristic Report, Bailet purchased the property for $925,000 in 2005. The previous owner, Ballard Food Corporation, paid $400,000 for the area in 2003.