Design Review Thursday, August 14th
The next design review for Fauntleroy Place/Whole Foods project is on Thursday, August 14th at 8pm at High Point Community Center.
Blue Star will be presenting a revised design - an earlier design was previewed at our last JuNO meeting. I will be mmeting with Vlad tonight for a preview and will try to post my impressions here tonight.
Hope to see you all tomorrow.
Erica
August 14th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I was given a preview of the design last night and have three areas of comment/concern:
1. Entrance on Alaska - This needs to be much better! More pedestrian interaction - mayber the floral dept spilling out onto the sidewalk, or a cafe with bistro seating. Something to attract pedestrians, bus commuters, folks up in the junction to stroll down the street and into Whole Foods. Widen the door, have roll up garage doors at that entrance, something to invite and attract folks to come in.
2. Break up the facade on the front facing 39th and Fauntleroy. Varied facades are presented on 42nd to help it look less HUGE, let’s bring that approach to all sides of the building.
3. Cement wall in alley facing residential units should be a green wall. Add live plant growth to this wall to make it more attractive to townhouse dwellers directly across.
Looking forward to hearing more community input tonight. Let’s be vocal!!! All of these comments have been given to Blue Star previously, so now is time to get the design review board to help us be heard.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Great to see so many people at the meeting last night. THe review board has agreed to recommend a MUP (master use permit) to proceed. This came after much discussion and further recommendations that include the three listed in my previous post. In addition, they also requested that the courtyard above whole foods (open to the public) include areas that are protected from the rain so that it can be used year round, more emphasis on the midblock WF entrance on Alaska (Widen entrance, more pedestrian interaction, more inviting), a green screen on the alley wall facing residential units, more textures and playfulness with the 39th facade (liked the facade on 40th and recommended that to be considered for 39th), and improvement to the ‘gateway’ feel especially when approacing from northbound on Fauntleroy.
The review board was okay with the massing, but felt the details and design work needed some improvement. DPD planner Michael Dorcy will now work with Blue Star to revamp design to meet recommendations.
Related discussion took place about concerns over traffic flow in the area with so many projects going up. These are SEPA considerations (environmental review issues) and need to be addressed directy by contact Michael Dorcey at michael.dorcy@seattle.gov or 206.615.1393.