The intersection of NW 58th St. and 24th Ave. NW has been at the heart of significant redevelopment in the last few years. QFC is in the process of renovating its store, and adding five floors of living space above it. A new park and library sit a block away and down the street, dueling condo towers are in the process of stacking up across from each other.

The intersection is indicative of the churn that is new Ballard. Except, that is, for two lots on intersection's northwest corner, that have sat vacant for last five years. One building is the former home of the Salmon Bay Veterinary Clinic, and both have been covered with graffiti, magnets for lingerers and litter, and shelter for transients. The land that time (and developers) forgot.

But now neighbors will get what they say they've been waiting for in the property; an active owner.

Developer Nebel Dikmen is purchasing the properties and intends to build a 31 unit residential apartment building. Dikmen is purchasing the property at the end of August, from current owner, Donald Stabbert, of West Water Real Estate. Stabbert bought the property in October of 2004.

It is unclear whether he purchased the property with the intention of developing it. Stabbert and West Water Real Estate would not respond to requests from this paper for information. It is a fairly common practice for developers (referred to as 'paper developers') to buy land, obtain a MUP and re-sell the property at a higher price.

Dikmen, however, plans to develop the property and sell it. Seattle-based architect Roger Newell is designing the building.

"We're trying to do a good quality building, something that fits nicely in that area," Dikmen said in a phone interview. He likened the design to two of Ballard's most recent developments, NoMa and Metropolitan.

Newell is fine-tuning the original design specified by the Master Use Permit (MUP). The city's Northwest Design Review Committee must approve the final plans before construction can begin. Newell does not expect any difficulties.

Construction is scheduled to begin in November, and should be finished by the spring, according to Dikmen.

Neighboring businesses will be happy to see the vacant buildings replaced.

"It's certainly an eyesore, and I have customers ask me all the time what's going on there," said Don Nordness, owner of Il Gardino, which is across the street.

The city agreed with Nordness that the vacant buildings are eyesores when it declared the property a graffiti nuisance in July. The city ordered the owner, Stabbert, to remove the graffiti, but Stabbert has not complied, according to Vic Roberson of Seattle Public Utilities' Graffiti Prevention Program. The city has requested a hearing in court. Stabbert could be fined $100/day for every day the graffiti remains, up to a maximum of $5,000.