Changes are afoot in Alki as developer Borge Steinsvik is moving forward with his plans for mixed-use “Alki Landing,” located at the eastern corner of 59th Ave. S.W. and Alki Ave. S.W.

Steinsvik owns the 13,700 ft. lot that Alki Beach Properties and Saigon Boat Café currently call home. According to Roger H Newell AIA Architects (tasked with designing the new development) the plans are for a mixed-use residential and commercial space with surface parking and “one or two eating establishments on the main floor of the building with possible commercial uses on the upper floors.”

Newell said Steinsvik “has given us the green light to complete the design and obtain building permits for his Alki Landing project. The city planning staff has set a date for the pre-application meeting which is required prior to our submittal of the EDG (early design guidance) packet.”

Once the pre-application process is complete an EDG meeting with the Southwest Design Review Board (open to the public) will be set, at which time Newell will present four different design options.

Architects initially planned to build underground parking, but Newell said the idea was scrapped “due to the extensive peat layer under the site.”

Prior to the early design meeting the design packet will be available for download from the city’s DPD website. In the meantime, Newell shared the following preview:

“Our preferred design will include a terraced façade along Alki Avenue and a portion of S.W. 59th which will provide the necessary clearances from the existing power lines. We are proposing a strong structural solution where the structure defines the architecture. The project is proposed to meet the LEED silver requirements" (guidelines for green, energy efficient designs).