The Northwest Design Review Board has approved the design of a new six-story, 31-unit condominium for the northwest corner of 24th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 58th Street. Danielle Condominium is the newest addition planned in a two-block radius on busy 24th where several multi-level residential buildings have sprouted in the past few years, with more to come.

Across the street to the southeast, the QFC grocery story will be rebuilt below six levels of apartment units. South of that is NoMa Condominiums, a recently completed six story, 90-unit mixed-use building.

Paralleling NoMa, another six-story condo stands. A block south of the Danielle building is Abraxus Books in the old one-story Ballard Library building. So far, it's safe from the wrecking ball, but the property owner, developer Curt Pryde, plans to build a mixed-use residential building there in the next few years.

Preliminary design plans included 94 units and 120 below grade parking stalls. The project was put on hold until other major developments are completed, Pryde has said.

These, and possibly other new developments, could bring in more than 1,000 new residents in that pocket of Ballard alone. That puts an extra load of cars traveling up and down 24th, a busy main arterial used by commuters, bikers and truck drivers from nearby industrial businesses.

Wayne Wentz, a traffic manager for the Seattle Department of Transportation, said the traffic impact from new developments have been studied by the city. It was also considered when the city decided to implement a "road diet," which reduced four lanes of traffic to three with a center turn lane down a portion of 24th Avenue Northwest.

"We know that we can handle those volumes," said Wentz.

Also, he said Ballard is becoming much more mixed use. The city expects residents won't drive as much with services within walking distance as they would in a purely residential neighborhood.

Many Ballard residents have met increased development here with mixed emotions. Roger Newell, the architect for the Danielle building, said he understands the resistance to change in a still-growing city. People are apprehensive about how new development can change their neighborhood.

"It's still a shock to many residents," said Newell. "But developers want to build a building that fits into the community."

Perhaps what will make this new development stand out from the others nearby is its lack of commercial space in an area of mixed uses.

Strips of retail to the north and south include restaurants, bakeries, bars and coffee shops. Mixed-use condos and multi-story apartment buildings as well as single-family homes sit to the east and west.

It's also on the fringe of the Ballard Municipal Center, which borders Northwest 58th from 22nd to 24th avenues northwest south to Northwest Market Street. Design guidelines for this area designate that mixed-use buildings should extend to the property line.

The Northwest Design Review Board, a five-member board comprised of professionals in urban design and architecture, struggled with how a residential building should be regulated in that "gray area," when they reviewed the project last week.

The review process is supposed to allow citizens an opportunity to provide input on new developments. Two citizens came to last week's meeting.

Located in the designated Central Ballard Hub Urban Village, the new condo will be slightly higher than 60 feet. Buildings taller than that aren't allowed in midrise zones.

Two single-family homes were demolished recently on the site for a footprint of 93 by 100 feet with a "slight slope" from north to south of roughly 5 feet.

The project has been in planning stages since 2000 and has changed ownership several times. Newell is the third architect to work on the design.

"It's been bouncing around a little bit," he said.

The review board had already approved the design of a mixed-use apartment building at the same location in 2003. But since ownership and the design had changed, the city department of planning and development required it to go through another design and permitting process.

Newell said his goal was to work within the design parameters based on previous board recommendations.

The Danielle will have 39 below grade parking stalls. The size of the units will range from 594 to 1,250 square feet; 16 one-bedrooms, 8 one-bedrooms with a studio, and 7 two-bedrooms.

Three units will be located at the first floor level facing south on 58th, each with its own private entrance.

The main pedestrian entrance is planned for along 24th. Traffic will leave the building through an existing alleyway on the north side of the complex.

Peggy Sturdivant, a Ballard resident who attended last week's meeting, said it could be difficult for drivers exiting onto 24th to see oncoming vehicle, bike and pedestrian traffic.

"That would be a concern for me," she said. "I see that as a potential hazard."

Board members agreed that could become an issue and asked that the concern be forwarded to the transportation department.

Exterior materials include a combination of vertical metal siding contrasted with smooth hardy panels made of compressed wood in slate grays, natural browns and light green. Tiling is intended to create a durable base.

The board included recommendations that the developer should use more masonry-based materials at the pedestrian entrance, instead of wood panels.

"That speaks to a pedestrian experience down 24th," said Mark Brands, an architect and member of the design review board. "The material quality at eye level seems like it's been diminished."

An 8-foot wide sidewalk along 24th and a 6-foot wide sidewalk on 58th are planned. The building will be setback about 15 feet from the property line on 24th.

Windows and doors on the ground level, a ground level patio, benches near a large transparent lobby, planters and landscaping should encourage human activity on the street, said Newell.

An environmental review is currently being conducted by the city.

To comment on this development at 5803 24th Ave. N.W. before Dec.12, call 684-8467 or email PRC@seattle.gov.

Rebekah Schilperoort may be contacted at 783.1244 or rebekahs@robinsonnews.com