Since Abraxus Books vacated the old Ballard Library site on 24th Avenue Northwest in June, the building has been sitting idle once again. The owner of the site, local developer Curt Pryde, said it could still be another three years before his plans to develop it are realized.

A fence was put up recently to cut down on the graffiti, but Pryde estimated the building is still getting hit at least every other day.

Pryde's short and long term goals for the property haven't changed much since 2007 (read Condo delayed; bookstore stays). He still plans to develop the site into a mixed-use building within the next three years, though the economy has slowed those plans some, he said.

The financing just isn't available right now, he said.

A design review meeting was held in 2006 for a 94-unit mixed-use project that included 120 underground parking spaces. But at that time, when Ballard was seeing the beginnings of several major mixed-use projects like the QFC re-redevelopment right across the street, Pryde told the News-Tribune the timing wasn't right.

The site’s most recent tenant, Abraxus, started having trouble a little more than a year after it opened in the former library at 5711 24th Ave. N.W.

The owners stopped paying rent in September 2008, said Pryde. He said he tried working with them on a payment plan, but the payments became unreliable.

When Abraxus gave notice it would be leaving Ballard, Pryde said there were still about 18 months left on the bookstore's five-year lease. Abraxus still owes him $80,000, he said.

"It devastated us financially," said Pryde, also the developer of the Hjarta Condominiums on Market Street.

Abraxus Books has since relocated to lower Queen Anne.

Pryde is optimistic about Ballard, though, as he continues to see new businesses opening despite the poor economy.

He said his plans for the former Ballard library development include homes affordable to the middle-income work-force, not just luxury units.

"We'd like to build some housing the community can afford to live in," he said.

The immediate plans for the site are to secure a short term tenant to occupy the 20,000-square-foot space. It's not as easy to lease out as it was a few years ago when the market and development was booming, he said.

"It's definitely softened," Pryde said. "There's not a lot of urgency for people to make a decision (right now)."

The building is leasing for about $10 to $12 per square foot, Pryde said.

Pryde said he wants to find a local business like Abraxus, which moved into the building from a warehouse on Seaview Avenue, to fill the space temporarily while his mixed-use project continues to sit on the shelf.