Ballard Developments - Page 5

mhays · January 21st, 2008, 01:38 AM

I took a walk through Ballard today (and Phinney, Greenlake, Ravenna ravine, U-Village, U-District, bus to SLU, walk to Belltown. Ballard is looking better and better. If community and vitality can be judged by the number of people in coffee shops, they have three full places in a one-block distance on Market. Counting the old QFC site that's been demo'd and has several backhoes parked, they have 800 units going up in an 80-acre area, plus maybe 600-700 recently completed plus what existed already -- it's already pretty vibrant, and it's going to be FANTASTIC in a couple years. Add the new MOB planned at the hospital and the Silver Cloud Hotel planned along the waterfront, and its daytime population will be stregthened also.

I was also happy to see the sheer volume of townhouses outside the Ballard core, not to mention Phinney, Ravenna, etc. While I don't like how driveway-focused many are, they're doing great things in terms of densifying streets near business districts, along minor arterials, etc. Apparently numbers aren't tracked, but these must represent a few thousand new units in the past few years alone. Another thousand per year would make me very happy -- densification, keeping housing supply ahead of demand to keep prices reasonable, and housing that adresses people's desire for "family-sized" units.

SteveM · January 22nd, 2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhays

I was also happy to see the sheer volume of townhouses outside the Ballard core, not to mention Phinney, Ravenna, etc. While I don't like how driveway-focused many are, they're doing great things in terms of densifying streets near business districts, along minor arterials, etc. Apparently numbers aren't tracked, but these must represent a few thousand new units in the past few years alone. Another thousand per year would make me very happy -- densification, keeping housing supply ahead of demand to keep prices reasonable, and housing that adresses people's desire for "family-sized" units.

I believe the multi-family zoning update doc had a bunch of details about what was getting built in each of the lowrise zones. I don't recall the numbers off the top of my head, but I believe somewhere around 1000-1500 units of townhouses are getting built in Seattle each year. Most (though not all) of those are replacing single-family housing, so the net housing increase is a little lower than that. But yeah, it's a big density increase and, hopefully, a product that fills the "family-sized" need.

On the topic of Ballard, I've heard there are folks trying to lobby to get a bowling alley as the ground floor of the Sunset Bowl replacement. I don't know how much success they'll have, but it's an interesting development...

CityView Jim · January 22nd, 2008, 08:57 PM

Hmmm. Living above a bowling alley - sounds tranquil!

mhays · January 22nd, 2008, 10:02 PM

Thanks SteveM for those numbers. That jibes with the numbers going through the MUP process.

If the bowling alley replacement plans a big box store and lots of related parking, a new alley would work in theory. Otherwise I'd be shocked if the bowling alley idea was even feasible. First the ground floor of anything will generall have lots of columns. Second they're probably planning a much narrower retail frontage. Third, regardless, they would want a tenant to pay a rent that justifies the construction cost, which has so far only worked in downtown spaces. Could a new alley in Ballard charge the same as the place in Bellevue, or the same as The Garage for that matter? Certainly not with the middle-class clientele it had in the past. And yes, noise is always an issue in a residential project...noise from the alley, and noise when customers leave.

testdrive · January 23rd, 2008, 02:38 PM

Denny's announced they wanted to buy back their former restaurant on Market.

mhays · January 23rd, 2008, 07:24 PM

Ugh. A crappy chain to go with a crappy building, and they'd definitely want the god damn surface parking.

silence.kit · January 23rd, 2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhays

Ugh. A crappy chain to go with a crappy building, and they'd definitely want the god damn surface parking.

I will admit that I was hoping something other than Denny's would buy back the building. There's too many other great places to get breakfast. I'm not sure why anyone would go to Denny's.

citruspastels · January 23rd, 2008, 09:43 PM

that's easy man- 24 hours!

silence.kit · January 23rd, 2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citruspastels

that's easy man- 24 hours!

Forgot about that.

CityView Jim · January 23rd, 2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by citruspastels

that's easy man- 24 hours!

Hunger is a great option.

Last time I went to Dennys (and yes, it was 2 in the morning), I had eggs. I broke into my over-easies and blood came out!!!! I almost threw up. Denny's solution was to give me $3 off my meal.

Its no wonder they keep closing all over the place!

taiwanesedrummer36 · January 24th, 2008, 02:25 AM

I'd prefer IHOP. I just went this past Monday (first time in several years since i've been mainly going to Denny's). Man, I forgot how amazing their pancakes taste!

I'm totally going back this Saturday...

By the way, what's the status of that piece of shit?

BoulderGrad · January 24th, 2008, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taiwanesedrummer36

I'd prefer IHOP. I just went this past Monday (first time in several years since i've been mainly going to Denny's). Man, I forgot how amazing their pancakes taste!

I'm totally going back this Saturday...

By the way, what's the status of that piece of shit?

Bah, no chains. How bout a locally owned place? I'd prefer an independant place that only has that one location. Something like the Sunlight Cafe in Roosevelt, or Beths. Something uniquely Seattle. Make it a landmark to be proud of, not some chain restaurant defiling an historic building.

silence.kit · January 24th, 2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CityView Jim

Hunger is a great option.

Last time I went to Dennys (and yes, it was 2 in the morning), I had eggs. I broke into my over-easies and blood came out!!!! I almost threw up. Denny's solution was to give me $3 off my meal.

Its no wonder they keep closing all over the place!

That's very disgusting and as a result, I don't think I'll ever eat at a Denny's again.

NW Mike · January 25th, 2008, 06:44 PM

While heading up the Stevens Pass I stopped at The Sultan Bakery. That is the Bomb! They need something like that on that site. HUGE portions and Cheap! And Home made.

AzChristopher · February 5th, 2008, 09:47 AM

http://crosscut.com/mossback/11182/%...us+Goliath%27/

I thought I'd post this link since we had such a good discussion about the Ballard Manning's/Denny's. The title comes from a PBS show that is supposed to run on Friday, the 8th, at 7:30 pm.

Quote:

There was also discussion about how the diner might be incorporated into a high-density, mixed-use development on the site. One architect presented some rough sketches of how this might work, a win-win for everyone, if feasible. Many of the diner's most ardent advocates are architects who voice strong support for developing the site. Most want to see heritage preserved and top-notch development. They would love to see Benaroya come up with a creative plan B.

That was from near the end of the article/essay. The idea which seemed missed earlier in this thread would be to keep the building and use the parking lot for the type of high density development we all want.

CrazyAboutCities · February 7th, 2008, 03:45 AM

EDITED.

seapug · February 7th, 2008, 04:01 AM

umm also groups of friends that are out at 3 in the morning and get hungry. And fat people shouldn't go in public?

citruspastels · February 7th, 2008, 04:18 AM

I think it's a great idea to keep the building and build around it. It really is a fun and unique building, and we need to keep as many of those as possible, lest we lose that which makes Seattle fun and unique.

If it were kept as it was built originally, it would be a no-brainer. However, I just recently saw what it looks like inside, and they really did gut the heck out of it. While it may have to be torn down, I'm glad to see people are considering keeping it up.

CrazyAboutCities · February 7th, 2008, 04:21 AM

[QUOTE=seapug;18244121]umm also groups of friends that are out at 3 in the morning and get hungry.

We have some fast food restaurants here that opens 24 hours a day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by seapug

And fat people shouldn't go in public?

I didn't say that. We don't see many of them in the city only in the suburbs or rural areas.

silence.kit · February 7th, 2008, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyAboutCities

Get rid of that place! IHOP, Denny's, and Sharis are for rednecks and overweighted people. Seattle is too fit city to have these restaurants. Get that place demolished and make way for a new condo building!

If you truly mean this, I wish you'd move because your presence is making Seattle worse.

January 24th, 2008, 02:25 AM	#91
taiwanesedrummer36 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Little Taipei, Everett Posts: 1,047 Likes (Received): 0	I'd prefer IHOP. I just went this past Monday (first time in several years since i've been mainly going to Denny's). Man, I forgot how amazing their pancakes taste! I'm totally going back this Saturday... By the way, what's the status of that piece of shit? __________________ Everett/Snohomish County Development News Thread

January 25th, 2008, 06:44 PM	#94
NW Mike Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle,Bellevue,Everett Posts: 958 Likes (Received): 43	While heading up the Stevens Pass I stopped at The Sultan Bakery. That is the Bomb! They need something like that on that site. HUGE portions and Cheap! And Home made. __________________ The less you know on any given subject, the more in-depth you can debate that subject.

February 7th, 2008, 03:45 AM	#96
CrazyAboutCities Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 8,328 Likes (Received): 15	EDITED. Last edited by CrazyAboutCities; November 29th, 2012 at 10:12 PM. Reason: .

February 7th, 2008, 04:01 AM	#97
seapug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: seattle Posts: 529 Likes (Received): 34	.... umm also groups of friends that are out at 3 in the morning and get hungry. And fat people shouldn't go in public?

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January 21st, 2008, 01:38 AM	#81
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,369 Likes (Received): 118	I took a walk through Ballard today (and Phinney, Greenlake, Ravenna ravine, U-Village, U-District, bus to SLU, walk to Belltown. Ballard is looking better and better. If community and vitality can be judged by the number of people in coffee shops, they have three full places in a one-block distance on Market. Counting the old QFC site that's been demo'd and has several backhoes parked, they have 800 units going up in an 80-acre area, plus maybe 600-700 recently completed plus what existed already -- it's already pretty vibrant, and it's going to be FANTASTIC in a couple years. Add the new MOB planned at the hospital and the Silver Cloud Hotel planned along the waterfront, and its daytime population will be stregthened also. I was also happy to see the sheer volume of townhouses outside the Ballard core, not to mention Phinney, Ravenna, etc. While I don't like how driveway-focused many are, they're doing great things in terms of densifying streets near business districts, along minor arterials, etc. Apparently numbers aren't tracked, but these must represent a few thousand new units in the past few years alone. Another thousand per year would make me very happy -- densification, keeping housing supply ahead of demand to keep prices reasonable, and housing that adresses people's desire for "family-sized" units.

January 22nd, 2008, 08:57 PM	#83
CityView Jim Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,954 Likes (Received): 62	Hmmm. Living above a bowling alley - sounds tranquil!

January 22nd, 2008, 10:02 PM	#84
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,369 Likes (Received): 118	Thanks SteveM for those numbers. That jibes with the numbers going through the MUP process. If the bowling alley replacement plans a big box store and lots of related parking, a new alley would work in theory. Otherwise I'd be shocked if the bowling alley idea was even feasible. First the ground floor of anything will generall have lots of columns. Second they're probably planning a much narrower retail frontage. Third, regardless, they would want a tenant to pay a rent that justifies the construction cost, which has so far only worked in downtown spaces. Could a new alley in Ballard charge the same as the place in Bellevue, or the same as The Garage for that matter? Certainly not with the middle-class clientele it had in the past. And yes, noise is always an issue in a residential project...noise from the alley, and noise when customers leave.

January 23rd, 2008, 02:38 PM	#85
testdrive Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Bend Posts: 862 Likes (Received): 17	Denny's announced they wanted to buy back their former restaurant on Market.

January 23rd, 2008, 07:24 PM	#86
mhays Journeyman Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,369 Likes (Received): 118	Ugh. A crappy chain to go with a crappy building, and they'd definitely want the god damn surface parking.

January 23rd, 2008, 09:43 PM	#88
citruspastels Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 690 Likes (Received): 3	that's easy man- 24 hours!

February 7th, 2008, 04:18 AM	#98
citruspastels Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 690 Likes (Received): 3	I think it's a great idea to keep the building and build around it. It really is a fun and unique building, and we need to keep as many of those as possible, lest we lose that which makes Seattle fun and unique. If it were kept as it was built originally, it would be a no-brainer. However, I just recently saw what it looks like inside, and they really did gut the heck out of it. While it may have to be torn down, I'm glad to see people are considering keeping it up.