The city-appointed board that reviews major mixed-use projects in the area was happier with the massing of a six-story 234-unit apartment building set to replace the Sunset Bowl at the second meeting to review the project, but they had some suggestions for improvements.

At the first design review in late July AvalonBay Communities Inc. presented its preferred design option to the Northwest Design Review Board. Board members said the massing and scale of the proposed building at 1400 N.W. Market St., which includes 15,000 square feet of retail space and parking below grade for 295 vehicles, did not fit in well with the character of the surrounding streets.

Derek Bottles, project manager for AvalonBay, said his development company has met with several community groups in the area, including the East Ballard Community Council and the 14th Ave NW Visioning Project.

"We've been working diligently to incorporate ideas from these meetings (into the design)," said Bottles.

Cara Godwin, an associate with Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects, the firm designing the building, said in meetings with the community, residents indicated they wanted to see community gathering spaces, sustainable building and good pedestrian areas along 14th Avenue.

The location of the project is in a prominent area of Ballard, just south of Ballard Market, north of Safeway and a block east of the major arterial 15th Avenue Northwest. Parker Paint sits to the east with Burger King at its west.

Bottles said the new massing plan provides more "movement and liveliness" along Market and 14th. Where the building was designed to the property line along those streets, it has been revised to step back.

"I like what they've done (with the massing)," said board member Mark Brands.

Another major element to the project that was highlighted by AvalonBay was a 60 by 40 foot public plaza that would be built on the southeast corner of Market Street.

The plaza's major feature is a grand stairway and outdoor seating for the public. It will be a place to wait for the bus and gather, said Godwin.

In order to break up the massing along Northwest 56th, residential stoops that provide direct entry into units have been added and set back further to provide more room for "lush plantings, visible front doors and hand railings."

The northeast corner of the north fa