1999 west seattle junction plan
TRANSCRIPT
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January l999
-
riends
o
the
Junction
West Seattle n tion
ub Urban
Village
Neighborhood
Plan
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FRIENDS
O
THE
JUN TION
Planning Commiltee
Lyn Kilpatrick Co-chair
Vivian
Williams Co-chair
Economic
Development Commiltee
Diane Cole
Chair
Transportation Commiltee
Abdy Farid Chair
Housing
and Land
Use
Bob Kacel Chair
Parks
and Open
Space
Committee
Sarah McCaghren Chair
Cultural
Arts
Mary Hali
Chair
Human Development and Public
Safety
Sandie
McTIghe Co-chair
Lyn Kilpatrick
Ca-chair
West Seattle Junction
ub Urban Village
Neighborhood
Plan
Greg
Waddell
Carlson
Architects
Project Manager; Mary Embleton Economic Development:
Peggy Gaynor
Parks
and Open Spece; Robert Bemstein Transportafion
Venus Velezquez Project Manager ily of Seattle Neighborhood Planning Oftice
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Table of
ontents
Introduction
Past Planning
Projects
3
Phase
5
Key Integrated Strateg
es
8
FOJ
Committee Recommendations
4
Economic Development
5
Transportation 28
Housing and land Use
37
Parks and
Open Space
43
Cultural rts
49
Human Development and Public Safety 52
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ntroduction
The West Seattle
Junction
Hub Urban Vil/age
Neighborhood
Plan
is the culmination of an effort
begun in 1996
when
the Friends of the
Junction
Neighborhood
Association
(FOJ) was founded by
neighbors who
were concerned about the
future of
the
Junction and
who wanted
to participate
in
the neighborhood planning process.
The
neighborhood planning process was initiated by the
1994
adoption
of
Seattle's
Comprehensive
Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan had
designated
the West
Seattle Junction neighborhood as
aHub Urban
Vil/age. The
Neighborhood Planning process
involved
two phases. n both phases, the
FOJ was
cha/lenged
to involve
the whole
community in
creating
a vision,
identifying
issues
important to
the community
and developing goals, pOlicies and
recommendations to address
these
issues.
Seattle's
Comprehensive Plan
The Comprehensive Plan, Toward a
SustainabJe Seattle,
is a20-year
policy
plan
1994-2014)
designed
to
articulate
a
vision
of
how Seattle
will
grow
in
ways that sustain its citizens' values.
The
Comprehensive Plan makes basic policy choices and provides a
1exible
framework for adapting to
real conditions
over time.
The initial
building blocks of the Comprehensive Plan are the "elements"
required
by the
state's
Growth Management
Act:
land
use, transportation,
housing,
capital facilities
and
utilities. King County's Countywide
Planning
Policies
require the
addition
of an
economic
development element, and
the
Seattle Framework Policies (Resolution 28535) inspired the
inclusion of aneighborhood planning element and ahuman development element. The ideas in
the plan were developed
over
five years through discussion and debate and the
creative
thinking of
thousands
of Seattle citizens
working
with
City staff and elected
officials.
The Urban Vil/age
Strategy
The goal
that unifies
a
the
elements
of
the
Comprehensive Plan is to preserve
the
best
qualities
of
Seat le's
distinct neighborhoods
while responding
positively
and
creatively to
the
pressures of
change
and
growth. key component
of the City's
plan to
achieve this
goal is
the urban
village
strategy.
The urban vil/age strategy combines sma/l
changes in
the
city's development pattern
with amore
complete
and
competitive
intermodal public transportation system, the targeted use of housing
assistance funds and planning
tools
to provide desirable and affordable housing, investment in
facilities and service
delivery
systems designed to serve
higher density
neighborhoods and
neighborhood-based decisions built
upon local citizens' expressed
priorities.
Seattle
will
strive
to
develop
and enhance these qualities
of
urban
vil/ages:
diverse mix of people of
varied ages,
incomes, cultures, employment,
and
interests;
variety of
housing types,
ranging appropriately
for each
village
scale
to meet the
needs
and
preferences
of the
diverse
community;
strong
relationship between residential
and commercial areas;
Community facilities, including schools, community and recreation centers,
libraries,
parks,
and
human
services within
walking
distance of
the vil/age core;
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Seattle
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Partnerships
with neighborhood and community-based
organizations
to improve people's
access
to services and activities
and
to
create
opportunities
for
interaction
through
such
means
as neighborhood
planning and community
policing;
Transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities with connections to neighboring villages,
good
circulation
within the
village and between
the
village and surrounding neighborhoods;
Well-integrated public open space, providing recreational opportunities
for
village residents
and workers;
unique
identity
reflecting local history,
the
village's natural features, its
culture
and
other
sources of community pride.
Urban Center
Village Designation
The Junction Hub
Urban
Village is
one
of
seven
Hub
Urban
Villages in
Seattle,
and
is the
smallest
of the
seven in acreage. Hub
Urban
Villages
are
defined
in
the
Comprehensive Plan as
areas
that
have
a
core business district
surrounded
by
residential uses.
According to the Comprehensive
Plan, he
225
acre
Hub
Urban
Village contained
3 108
households
in 1994
for a housing
density of
about
7 1 households per acre. The
plan estimates
an
additional 1 100
households
will
be constructed by
the year
2014.
This
would
increase
he
density to
13
households per
gross
acre.
There
were
an
estimated
3 108 jobs
within
the urban
village boundaries
in 1994. The number of
jobs
is
estimated to increase
by
2 300 to
about
5 400
in
2014.
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further community outreach, seven strategies were suggested:
Completelpublish the community cultural
plan
Form
cultural
coalition to increase membership and recruit volunteers
Engage
in
others planning efforts
as
way
to
involve the community
in
a
aspects
of
art
and arts planning
Collaborate
with
another group in presenting program in south or east West Seattle
as
way to
produce new
program
for
new
audience
Improve
the
spaces for arts programs to establish an interim performance space and
community arts
center
Explore
ways to improvel supplement
arts
education
Develop cultural clearinghouse that would increase awareness
of
the
arts/artists
in
West
Seattle, produce an annual calendar of events, and provide technical assistance
ta
others
w st
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ast
lanning rojects
The West
Seattle Hub
Urban
Village Neighborhood Plan is not
the
first effort by the community to
develop
plan for
the
junction
area. Two of the most recent
efforts
in the Junction are
the
West
Seattle Junction Economic Summit and ArtsWest Community Cultural Plan.
West
Seattle Junction Economic Summit
n
March 1995,
nearly 50 individuals
met
to discuss ways to enhance
the
economic vitality
of the
West Seattle Junction. The
summit
consisted
of three
stages: group brainstorming session;
detailed discussion
of
opportunities and challenges;
and
discussion
of the
recommendations
and
next steps.
During
the
brainstorming session, three comments were repeatedly made:
The Junction should have unique magnet stores, more
essential
retail and services, and
safe
and clean
business district.
The vision for the Junction is prosperity.
The
obstacles
to success are apathy,
inertia,
absentee
property
owners, lack of common
vision, and aesthetics.
The participants recommended the following actions to help enhance the economic vitality of the
Junction:
Create process to improve the physical character of
the
Junction
Develop neighborhood security
and
crime fighting program
for
the Junction
Enhance public safety in the Junction
Make the
rear entrances
of the
buildings as attractive as
the
front entrances
Develop strong parking management program
Make
other
improvements to
the
visual image
of
the Junction properties
Create and implement
marketing program for the
Junction
Create and implement business development plan for
the
Junction
ArtsWest
Community Cultural
Plan
ArtsWest
is
an organization
whose mission is to
encourage and develop
the arts
in West Seattle.
n
1996,
ArtsWest
conducted needs
assessment
of the
West Seattle/Duwamish Peninsula
area
as part of the community cultural planning process. The project
gave the
community an
opportunity to voice their interests,
hopes,
and concems. The needs assessment distributed
survey
and held one
focus group
meeting
and one community meeting.
Through
these efforts
and
w st
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hase
Outreach
From the
outset,
one of
the
primary tenets of the Friends of
the
Junction was that
the
neighborhood
planning process
be
comprehensive and inclusive. To
this
end, FOJ developed
a
community
outreach
strategy
based
on
three basic goals:
1. Identify, contact,
and
sustain
community
stakeholders involvement in
responding
to FOJ
preliminary planning
priorities.
2. Provide
ongoing community education.
3 Create aprocess for gaining affirmation
of
community priorities.
To meet these goals an
outreach program
was developed that
employed a
variety
of
methods
of
providing information and encouraging participation.
During the
course of Phase
I
planning,
the
following
activities
were undertaken.
List of
Community Stakeholders
A
mailing
list
of interested people
and key
contacts
was
developed
and
added to throughout the Phase
I process.
Small
Group Meetings with Video and Survey
The
small group
meetings component
targeted existing organizations in
the community and took the
neighborhood planning process
to their venue. Eleven small group meetings
were
facilitated
by FOJ
volunteers. Participating
organizations
included Genesee Garden Club, YMCA, Senior Center, ArtsWest, Junction
Business
Improvement Association,
Food
Bank, Cityview Neighborhood Council,
Pathfinders
PTSA, West
Seattle Support
Group, Tibbets
Methodist
Church, and Rotary Club.
About
200
people were
reached through this process.
Newspaper
Coverage The West Seattle Herald
published articles on FOJ planning
activities.
Friends of
the Junction Neighborhood
rochure
The brochure
describing FOJ s planning
goals
and
points
of
contact
was
distributed
at the
West Seattle Street Fair and
the
Neighborhood Service
Center.
Preliminary Survey Summer
1996 A
survey
asking
respondents to rank issues and
provide
additional
input was distributed at
the
Street Fair
and Neighborhood
Service
Center.
Issues Survey In
October, 1996, a follow-up
survey,
which incorporated
information
gained
from the
preliminary
survey, was
distributed
by mail to
10,131
households, businesses
and
property
owners.
Over
1000 persons responded
to
the survey.
Newsletter In
January, 1997, newsletter
was
mailed
to the
same
list
who had
received the
Issues Survey
the
previous October.
The
newsletter provided information about
the
planning
process, survey
results and urged people
to
attend the BIG
EVENT, scheduled
for
January 25,
1997.
Posters and Yard Signs Poster
and
yard signs advertising
the BIG EVENT were placed
in
local
shop
windows and at prominent locations around the Junction.
THE IG EVENT The Phase
I
outreach process culminated at Seattle Lutheran
High
School
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gymnasium on
Saturday, January 25,1997. Over 200 people carne
to
view the results of a
the work of the
FOJ
planning volunteers,
and
to
answer
the question Did
we
get it right?
Comment forms
were tabulated
to document support
for Phase Vision
and Planning Goals
and to
help develop
the
direction
of the next phase of the
neighborhood
planning
process.
Vision and Planning Goals
One
of
the most important consequences
of
Phase
planning
was
the creation
of
a
Vision
for
the
neighborhood that is reftective of the community and guides
the Phase
planning effort. The
following Vision statements
were created
through community outreach and
were
validated
by
a
community event
that culminated Phase
The West Seattle Junction Neighborhood is envisioned as a
ively center
of community life and
an
inviting place to
live, work,
play and shop.
Our
small town
atmosphere
will
be preserved and
will
serve as amodel for
future
development.
The Junction
will
be
a
desirable
place for
families with
asafe
and attractive
residential
neighborhood served
by
a
variety
of
park
and
recreation facilities.
The
Junction business district will
be
a vibrant center
of
shopping, dining, and cultural
opportunities.
Pleasant
pedestrian and
bicycle-friendly
streets and a
transit center
will provide convenient
access.
Goals
for Phase
Planning
n
addition to
the
Vision
Statement, the FOJ
volunteer planners developed goals
for planning
in
Phase II. The community was asked to
comment
on these goals as Phase came to conclusion.
Economic
Development
Coordinate with
the Junction Business
Improvement Association (BIA)
Establish a relationship with building and business
owners
to spur revitalization
Develop
the
Junction as ashopping destination
Prepare amarketing plan and
identify
what types of businesses are wanted
Housing
Protect single-family neighborhoods
Develop an affordable
housing
strategy
Develop design
guidelines
for
multi-family
and mixed-use development
Develop strateg
es
for mixed-use, in-fiII, and ground-related housing
Land
Use
Review
existing
zoning
and density
standards
to
make them
consistent
with housing goals
Develop design
guidelines
for commercial
development
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T
ansportation
Identify key pedestrian streets and prepare a
streetscape
physical improvement plan
Identify a site for a
transit center and
a
development strategy
Develop a recommended strategy for permanent removal
of
parking meters
Parks
and Open
Space
Identify
the
need for additionallenhanced park
facilities
and develop aplan to meet these
needs
Develop
a
strategy
for siting and developing open space
and recreational facilities within
the
Junction planning area
Identify the need and plan for community gardens
green
streets and an overall
open
space
system
Human
Development
Develop
n
outreach
plan
for Phase
to
ensure continued community involvement
Coordinate
planning with the YMCA
senior
center youth schools and churches
Share sites and locations for public services
Identify
opportunities
for location
of
community
services/facilities
within the
Junction
planning
area
Public
Safety
Identify opportunities to
enhance
existing neighborhood-based public safety
programs/resources
Increase
personal safety awareness
Share sites
and
locations
for
public services
Evaluate
and prioritize public spaces for safety improvements
Increase
police presence in neighborhood
Cultural Arts
Incorporate an
arts
element in
the Junction Neighborhood Plan
Coordinate
Phase planning with
ArtsWest
Assist ArtsWest
in
establishing
a
community arts center
with
performance space
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ey
trateg ies
No
single
activity will achieve the
vision
of
the
community. Recommendations from several,
perhaps aII of
the
subcommittees, when combined, result in
strategy
of
multiple
actions or
activities that
will achieve that vision. Consequently, recommendations
will
appear
both
in
the Key
Strateg es section and later in the section of committee recommendations. Each
Key
Strategy
consists
of
activities
for single complex project
or
theme that
the
neighborhood considers
critical
to achieving
its
vision for
the
future.
While the Key Strateg es are high priorities for
the
neighborhood, they are also
part
of
twenty-year
plan, sa
the
specific activities within each
Key
Strategy
may be implemented over
the
span of many years.
There are two Key Strategies in the FOJ Neighborhood Plan:
Strengthen the
Mixed-Use Commercial Core
Improve the Fauntleroy
Gateway into
the
Junction
Each of Ihe
Key
Strateg es is described below, together with
the
recommendations
thal
make up
that
stralegy. Each of
these
recommendations will appear later in this document in
the
respective
section
from which
it originated.
ey Strategy
Strengthen
the
MixedUse
Commercial Core
The main commercial
core
of
West Seattle
Junction
is centered
along California
Avenue
between SW Edmunds
Street
and SW
Genesee
Street.
The area
is
characterized
by
small one-
and
two-story structures
concentrated wall-to-wall along the street,
giving it
the image
of Main Street in
small
lown. The purpose of this Key Sirategy is 10
maintain and enhance compact mixed-use
commercial
core,
with
small town character, located between
41
s
I.
and 44
1h
Avenues
SW
and SW
Genesee Street
and SW Edmunds
Streel. This may
be done
by:
improving Iraffic
f10w and
circulation; improving pedestrian safety and
access
and providing pedestrian amenities;
implementing strong business retention and recruitment
program;
improving
parking
signage and
providing employee parking opportunities; and improving architectural
image. Key
implementation
activities are
identified
below.
Study
the
best
methods of
improving traffic flow
through the commercial core.
The study
should analyze such means as Iane reconfigurations on California Avenue, improved
signaling,
removal of
the
existing
scramble lighl,
andlor other
measures identified in
the
city's Streets
that
Work program.
Study the best methods of facilitating safe and convenient pedestrian access and
circulation
in
the
Junction commercial area.
Alternative
methods to be studied should include
installation
of
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curb bulbs,
mid-block
refuges and medians, pedeslrian signals, ree-planled median,
crosswalks and/or
olher pedeslrian
safety devices
for
crossings
al key localions where safety
and/or vehicle
traffic are an
issue.
These
include, bul
are
noI
limiled 10
he
following:
California Ave/Dregon
SI.
inlerseclion
(safely issues, particularly as Iraffic is reduced
10
one-lane
northbound)
California Ave mid-block between Dregon SI and
Alaska
SI
(mid-block pedestrian
safely issues and
Iraffic
speed issues)
California
Ave/Alaska
St inlersection (walk-all-ways lighl
creales
conflicts between
vehicles
and
pedeslrians
(e.g.
hurrying 10 gel Ihrough light before
the
walk-all-ways))
California Ave mid-block between Alaska SI and
Edmunds
SI
(mid-block
pedeslrian
safety issues
and
traffic speed issues)
California Ave/Edmunds SUErskine Way interseclion
(five-way
inlersection with bolh
vehicle
and
pedeslrian safety
concerns and
confusion for bolh)
44
th
Ave/Dregon St intersection
44
th
Ave/Alaska
SUGlen
Way
interseclion
42
nd
Ave/Dregon
St
intersection
42
nd
Ave/Alaska
SI
inlersection
42
nd
Ave/Edmunds
St
inlerseclion
41 sI Ave/Edmunds St interseclion
Work with
landowners
and the community
to
improve
the existing
breezeway
between
California Avenue and he public parking 1 1 1 Ihe
west wilh signage,
ar ,
lighting
and
other
amenilies. Idenlify localions appropriale for
additional pedestrian conneclions
Ihal
link public
parking
and businesses along
California
Avenue.
Conneclions
could be
developed in conjunclion
wi h redevelopmenl and or new conslruclion
projecls.
Work with the Cily, SIA, Wesl Seattle Chamber,
Trusleed Properties and merchanls
to
develop
program
of
improvemenls for
the alleys directly
easl
and wesl
of
California
Avenue SW
10
enhance
pedeslrian circulalion
and
safety
throughout he commercial
core.
This includes
addressing drainage and lighling
problems, rear
building improvements,
and
litter
conlrol.
Improvements should be compatible wi h continued vehicular use.
Provide benches
in localions
throughout
he business
dislric .
Key areas
include the
Senior
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Center, Town Hali
and future
playhouse
on California Avenue
SW;
areas
proposed for
public art
installation; the
vacant
area at 42
nd
and
SW
Alaska;
the
triangle
between the Feed and Seed and
furniture
store
on
California Avenue SW;
the passageway between California
Avenue SW and the public parking
lot
in
the
rear
to the west; and in the vicinity
of
potential new green spaces such as
former
City
Light
substations (California,
Dawson and Dakota).
Provide bike racks in
locations
throughout
the
business
district. Work
with
merchants
and
local school children
to
identify
appropriate locations. Key areas include bus
stops
and public parking lots.
Develop program
to
repair, replace and widen
existing sidewalks
in the business
district.
When possible, phase in as new
development
oecurs.
Work with FOJ, Junction BIA, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, merchants, and West
Seattle Trusteed Properties to
support planting
and upkeep of green spaces in the commercial
core.
Work with ArtsWest,
FOJ, Junction BIA, West
Seattle
Chamber of Commerce,
merchants,
and
West Seattle Trusteed Properties to identify
potentiallocations
for public art in he business
district. Identify
local
artists
and seek their
input and participation. Identify
funding
sources
for
initial projects and incorporate others as
new development occurs.
Install public art
in the following
locations:
The vacant
area at 42
nd
and
SWAlaska
The triangle
between Feed and
Seed and furniture
store
on
Califomia
Avenue SW
Passageway
between California
Avenue
SW and
parking lot
Continue to
work
with ArtsWest to
support
the Playhouse on California
Avenue in
the
heart
of
the
commercial core.
Develop
program
for retaining and
recruiting businesses in he commercial core.
West Seattle Hub
Urban Village
Neighborhood Plan
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10
he painted
wa 8I Ka/hy s
tudio ofDance is good
example
of
FOJ
vohmteerism and dressing up he
Junc1ion
with
public
alt.
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Work with FOJ, SIA,
West
Seattle Chamber and ArtsWest to develop
a
marketing
packet
and promotional video for the business district.
Explore
membership in the
Mainstreet
Program
to support
avanety of
improvements
Well designed direclional
signs
can
be informative
and
add public art t the streetscape.
and
tools for
the
commercial
core.
Possible
projects
include developing a
consumer survey
to
determine what goods and
services
West
Seattle
residents
want,
where they shop
now, to
gauge the
number
of
home-based
businesses,
and to
provide
workshops
on
business
recruiting. Coordinate
business retention and recruiting efforts with West
Seattle Chamber's ongoing
efforts
and
Junction
SIA.
Work
with the
city,
West
Seattle Chamber,
Junction SIA, Trusteed Properties
and
merchants
to
examine
existing parking arrangements to frnd
ways to aecommodate
employer
and employee
parking concems. This could include shared use
of existing parking
facilities
and
future development
of
joint-use
parking
facilities as
new
development
oecurs.
Work
with local
merchants,
the
Junction SIA,
the
West Seattle Chamber and Trusteed
properties
to
provide
better
signage
for
public
parking and
develop
aparking map.
Retain
services
of a recognized and
respected designer or plan
ner
to
describe
an aesthetic
character
and develop specific
design guidelines for both existing
and new
buildings
based
on
Preparinq
vour
own
Design
Guidelines Handbook for Seattle s Neighborhoods
and input
from DCLU,
FOJ and community. Explore
funding
possibilities
through
Neighborhood Matching
Grant.
(See
discussion of Design Guidelines in
the
Land Use Section)
Work
with
the city, Histonc Seattle, FOJ, Junction SIA and
West
Seattle Chamber to identify
local
Iandmark
buildings and
develop a
pool
of resources for
faeade improvements.
Consider
tax
relief and
other incentives
as ameans to encourage
development
within the
defrned
Village
core.
Adopt current city
urban
village boundaries.
West Seattle
Hub
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ey Strategy
Improve
the auntleroy
Gateway into
the
Junction
Fauntleroy
Way SW serves as the
primary entry into the West Seattle
Junction Hub Urban Village. From
35th Avenue
SW, where the Vil/age
begins,
to its intersection with SW
Alaska Street, the Fauntleroy Way
corridor presents
an
image
of
a
suburban
commercial
arterial
dominated by
automobiles.
This
image continues, to
some degree, on
Alaska
Street
to 42
nd
Avenue
SW.
While the businesses
in
this area are
important to the community, the
image created by this gateway area is
inconsistent with the
single-family,
small
town
character
valued by
Junction residents.
The purpose
of
this Key Strategy is to create
a
community gateway that reflects
the
character of the
rest
of the
neighborhood,
presents a
positive
image,
and
improves pedestrian
safety
and
amenities, traffic flow
and
general aesthetic appearance. The
recommended improvements
address
the entry
arterial system
including
FaunUeroy
Way SW Alaska Street
and
the
intersections at
35
1h
Avenue
SW
and
SW Avalon Way. The
recommendations also
address
land
uses in and around the entry area by
recommending that
there
be an
increase
in mixed-use residential development and single
purpose
multi-family
development. This strategy will meet the
Hub
Urban Village
targets for increased
households
and create a residential village
environment. Easy access
to transit and the arterial
street system support this
strategy. Key implementation
activities
are
identified below.
Encourage higher density residential mixed-use development in the
triangular
area bounded by
Fauntieroy Way,
Alaska
Way and
35
1h
Avenue SW. The height limit
should
remain 65
feet.
n appropriate commercially
zoned areas
outside the
commercial
core, allow single-
purpose residential as an
outright permitted use
and/or open space to fulfill
commercial requirement
(see map).
Develop coordinated design guidelines for advertising
signage
along Fauntleroy
Way
SW
West
Seattle Hub
Urban
Village
Neighborhood Plan
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Alaska Slreet and 35
th
Avenue SW so that signage
will
be effective without competing to be
bigger, higher
or
brighter.
Provide
improved
directional
signage along FaunUeroy
Way
to guide
travelers to
the
Junction
Business District
and
Fauntleroy ferry
terminal.
Higher
densi y
mixed use
anei
single purpose residential
in the
Fauntleroy
Gatewayarea wouid create desirable
ulban
villBge aImoSphere
Develop
an
Avalon-FaunUeroy-Alaska
Pedestrian Corridor
from
35th Avenue
to
California
Avenue.
Facilitate
safe and
convenient
pedestrian
circulation
through the
corridor
by
improving
sidewalks
on
Avalon Way, Fauntleroy Way, and
Alaska Street, and by
installing
curb
bulbs, mid
block refuges and medians,
pedestrian
signals,
and/or
olher
pedeslrian safety devices
for
crossings al Ihe Avalon Way/35th Avenue, Avalon
Way/Fauntleroy
Way, and
Fauntleroy Way/Alaska
Streel inlersections.
Improve pedestrian-scale lighting in
the
pedestrian corridor
and
provide benches, trees
and
olher
pedeslrian amenities.
Develop andscaped lriangle park
al
Ihe
interseclion of Fauntleroy Way at 39
th
Avenue SW.
Provide
bicycle Iane for weslbound movement
on
Avalon Way onto
Fauntleroy Way.
Modify Iane
configuration and traffic control
at
the
Fauntleroy Way/Alaska Sireet intersection.
Evaluate the Fauntleroy
Way SW
corridor, south
of
SW
Edmunds
Slreet, for
opportunities to improve vehicular
and
pedestrian safety,
accessibility, Iraffic
flow,
and provide aesthetic landscaping
improvements that maintain
or
improve
existing Iraffic flow.
Analyze traffic
volumes
(existing
and future),
delay times,
travel times when
considering potential
new
traffic and/or pedestrian signals,
and
retaining
on-street
parking
and
bus
zones;
consider bicycle
lanes
Improve bus stops
and
pedestrian crossing
by
installing
painted
crosswalks, curb
bulbs, pedestrian median refuges, and pedestrian signal in
appropriale
locations.
Improve
bus
stops and pedestrian crossings on Fauntleroy Way
by
installing painted
crosswalks,
curb bulbs,
pedestrian
median refuges, and pedestrian
signals
as
appropriate.
Provide bicycle
lanes
on
Avalon
Way
1 connect West Seattle Junction to the southem
lerminus of Ihe
Harbor
Avenue bikeway (al Spokane Street).
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FOJ
ommittee
Recommendations
The Key
Strategies
combine recommendations from several
FOJ
subcommittees.
There
are also
many recommendations from each of
the
committees that are not included in
the
integrated
strategies,
but
rather
are intended for implementation
by
the Cily, community
organizations
and
FOJ in both
the near
term and long term
future.
The FOJ Planning Committee organized into six subcommittees to develop the neighborhood plan.
These committees include:
Economic Development
Transportation
Housing
and Land Use
Parks
and
Open
Space
Cultural Arts
Human Development and Public Safety
Although each of these committees met
independently over
the course of the
planning
period, each
month
an
overall Planning Committee meeting
was
held
to
share
each
committee's progress,
concems and recommendations.
Many
of the planning issues
facing
FOJ defy categorization and were, therefore,
addressed by
more than one committee. For example, streetscape design and pedestrian safety
were
addressed
by the Economic Development Committee as they relate to the Business District, by the
ansportation
Committee for the overall village,
and
by the Parks
and
Opens Space Committee
regarding
"green
streets"
and the pedestrian travel
throughout
the
FOJ
Planning Area.
Likewise,
public art improvements
were
an important
issue
for both
he Cultural Arts Committee
and
the
Economic Development Committee.
As
a
result
of
this overlapping"
some
recommendations appear,
in
similar form, several times
n
the Neighborhood Plan. While this may
seem redundant,
in fact it strengthens
the
Plan
by
showing
that
the
community
arrived
at similar
conclusions even when approaching issues from different
perspectives
and interests.
West
Seattle
Hub Urban Village
Nelghborhood
Plan
1122199
14
Children
p/B) ed putt putt golf whi/e
pments teviewecl
FOJ
Committee
rerommend8tioos al
Salulliay
evenl
held
al /he
n w ArlsWesl Playhouse
an
June 27 1998.
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Economic evelopment
Vision:
The
West
Seattle
Juncfion
business district
as
safe
attractive and
inviting commercial
district
that supports
balance
of
retail
and
professional
jobs
daytime and evening activities and provides quality goods and services
that
meet
the
everyday needs of the community.
As one of its initial tasks, the Economic Development Committee formulated the tision
statement
above for the business community that summarizes the ideals and
principles on
which the following
goals,
pOlicies and
objectives
are based.
The
Economic
Development
component of the West
Seattle Junction neighborhood plan translates
these ideals into set
of actions that
can
be
implemented by
the
community, City
and
other participants to realize
the
vision.
Fundamental to the business district
vision is
creating vibrant,
compact
commercial district that
provides the small
town
atmosphere
and
qualities that the community desires.
The
following
general goals
have been
identified.
Goa11: Create
more compact
mixed-use commercial core
located
between
41
st
and 44
th
Avenues SW
from SW Genesee Street
to SW
Edmunds
Street.
Goal 2: Promote
attractive
higher
density
mixed-use
development
within the
commercial
core.
Goa13: Encourage development of mixed-use properties with
office and/or
residential
units
above
ground floor business/retail units
in
the commercial core.
Goal4: Undertake
streetscape and
building far;ade improvements
along
Califomia Avenue
SW
between
SW
Genesee and SW
Edmunds
Streets.
Goa15:
Develop
design
guidelines on
Califomia
Avenue to reinforce pedestrian
orientation and to enhance the smaJ town character of the
area.
Gaal
6: Encourage
more
mid-block pedestrian connecfions
that
link
public parking
lots and
businesses along Califomia
Avenue SW
as
new or
re-development
of
properties
occurs.
Goal
7:
Create community gateway
with landscaping
improved crosswalks
and
sign or
landmark
element at Fauntleroy Way
SW and
35th
Avenue
SW
Gaal 8: Support
home-based
businesses.
Goal
9:
Encourage
sense of
community pride
through
business promotions
advertising and communityevents.
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Goa110: Encourage the provision ofparking
for
both
shoppers
and employees
The general strategy
for achieving
the business
community s
vision
focuses
on
attracting
both
public
and private
investment, particularly
through
design guide
changes, strong
business
relention
and recruilment,
traffic flow
and
pedeslrian safety improvements, parking improvemenls,
and
streetscape
and
building fayade improvemenls necessary
1
create
a
more
atlractive development
setting. The
following goals, policies
and
recommendations address Ihese issues.
Business
Retention
and
Recruitment
A
major
objective of
business retenlion
and recruilment is 1
provide
a
supportive
environmenl
in which
existing businesses
can
prosper and
to
which new businesses
will
be
attracted.
Many
in the community
see the
character
of
commercial
developmenl
along California
Avenue SW
as
declining. The perception is
that
there
is an increasingly
narrow
mix
of retail
goods and
services,
and that merchants
are not providing what the community
is
looking
for.
Of particular-and repeated
concern-is the
lack
of anchor
tenants
or
magnet slores.
The
quality of
the retail
environment is also an issue of concern.
The primary business retention
and
recruitmenl
recommendations
are focused
on building a
strong,
collaborative
effort
among the FOJ,
West
Seattle
Chamber of
Commerce,
Junction
BIA and merchants
for marketing, promotion
and
special
events.
This
includes
utilizing exisling
programs to conduci
oulreach 1
merchanls on
marketing
and
promolion,
financial issues
and other business
operalion
concerns. Other
recommendations
are
focused
on
improving the physical environment
to
I
li
I
make
the Junction a
more
attractive
place to do
business and
shop (see the
building and
slreetscape improvements). Efforts
will
be focused
on
identifying whal goods and services local
residents
and merchants want in
the
Junction and actively recruiting businesses that provide those
goods and services.
One
goal of
the
recruitment recommendations
is to
establish amore diverse
mix of retail
and
professional
services within
the
corn
mercial core.
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Hub Urban Village
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Goal: Promote attractive, higher
density mixeduse development
within
the
commercial core.
Goal:
Encourage
development of mixeduse
properties with office
and/or
residential
units above ground floor
business/retail
units in the commercial core.
Goal:
Support
outreach
to property
owners to determine areas of common
interest
between their goals for their properties and the
community's
vision and goals for
the business district.
Goal:
Support
homebased businesses.
Goal:
Encourage
asense of community
pride
through business
promotions,
advertising and community events.
Policy:
Provide a
clean,
safe and more intense,
pedestrian-oriented environment
that
draws residents and visitors.
Policy: Actively work
to promote area
businesses
as well as
attract
new
businesses that provide goods
and or
services desired
by
the community.
Recommendation:
Use business district
customer
survey (see
Mainstreet
Program recommendation below)
to
identify
local home-based businesses.
more
detailed follow-up
survey or other
in-depth examination
of this
business
group'should follow
to
determine
local
business
needs. Work with West
Seattle
Chamber, Junction
SIA,
FOJ
and
local merchants to promote recognition of home
based businesses.
Recommendation: Develop
basic
marketing packet
that includes
map,
demographic,
articles and
newsletters.
Add
professional graphics
and
broader business ba se to
marketing efforts
over
time. Undertake further analysis of
specific uses
of marketing
packet
to
determine
prospective businesses, their space requirements, building
and
tenant
improvements, and parking requirements
to
determine feasibilily of attracting these
prospective
businesses.
Recommendation: Use Mainstreet Program tools to develop a
consumer
survey to
determine
what goods and
services
West
Seattle residents
want, and to
provide workshop
on
business recruiting.
Recommendation: Promote greater
balance
of
day-
and
nighttime activities includ
ng
exploring
with
merchants
the
feasibilily
of
extending
evening
hours.
Recommendation:
Establish opportunities
with area
merchants for
joint
advertising n
conjunction
with
summer festivals
and
activities
and as
kick-off for late nights in the
Junction .
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Seattle
Hub
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Village
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Recommendation:
Encourage FOJ,
BIA
and Chamber
of
Commerce to
jointly promote
business awards, which recognize local businesses that are outstanding pertormers
and
support the community.
Recommendation: Work with the Chamber
of
Commerce
and
BIA to get greater
participation n
area
events, including
advertising by Junction merchants and
special
promotions.
Recommendation: Develop special events transit service
to
link activities such as the
West
Seattle
Street
Fair and High Point
Multi-cultural
events throughout
West
Seattle.
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Zoning and
Design
Guidelines
to
Support the Business Core
The area along Califomia
Avenue SW
from
SW Genesee
to
SW
Edmunds
Streets
between
41st
and
44th Avenues
SW
comprises the commercial
core of the
Junction business district.
Today,
the
area consists predominantly
of
one-story commercial buildings. While this
area
contains
the
primary
concentration
of retail uses in the
Junction,
commercial uses are
scattered
the length of
Califomia
Avenue
SW
from the Admiral
District
to Morgan Junction
as
well
as on
east-west
arterials in neighborhood
commercial zones. The
community
feels
that
the
linear pattem
of
commercial development
along Califomia Avenue
SW
(and along east-west
arterials)
from the
Admiral
District
to
Morgan
Junction has
drawn and
continues
to
draw economic vitality
and
pedestrian
traffic
away from the
commercial
core area. This linear pattem of
development
is
largely a result of zoning requirements for ground-floor commercial
uses
in Neighborhood
The
chang
n
Zonlng Helght
Limits
proposed
In
the Draft
Plan
are
ot
included in the
Final
Plan.
Commercial zones. Developers in the
area also
note
that
the
requirement for ground-floor
commercial space doesn't pencil out for
the
most part, and
that it
is difficult, once built, to get
tenants. Consequently, the business district
recommendations include eliminating
or
relaxing
the
requirement for ground-floor commercial
uses in neighborhood commercial zones outside
the commercial
core
area.
Throughout
the neighborhood planning process,
the community has stressed its
desire
to
maintain
the
small
town
atmosphere
and
qualities that
have
historically characterized the
West Seattle Junction. pervading quality of
this small
town
feei is
expressed
in the existing
architecture
of
the community. One way
to
preserve
the
small
town
quality in
the
future
is
through building
design, including
height and
architectural
style. As a result of community
input in Phase committee meetings and
outreach
efforts,
the
draft
plan
business
district
recommendations initially focused on reducing
the
allowable height
within the
commercial core
area from
85-feet to 65-feet,
eliminating/relaxing
the
requirement for
ground
floor commercial
uses outside
the core,
and developing design
guidelines.
The
recommended
height
reduction
would
not
have significantly
reduced employment
or
residential capacity (approximately 250 fewer jobs
and 100 fewer housing units)
and
would have been
more consistent
with the Hub Urban
Village designation
as
detailed in
the
city's comprehensive
plan and reflected in zoning designations in
other
Seattle neighborhood commercial
districts.
Although
this proposal received the
most support
from
community respondents during Phase
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outreach efforts, the support did
not
constitute community consensus among aII
the
major
stakeholders so it was eliminated from
the
plan in favor of an alternative recommendation.
The
alternative
recommendation leaves unchanged the
current NC3
8S-foot zoning within the core
area (an area of
approximately 3-blocks) and focuses on eliminating relaxing
the
requirement for
ground floor commercial outside
Ihe
corn
merci
al
core and developing design
guidelines for
both
new development
and
redevelopment of properties outside the commercial core area. No change
in employment or residential capacity
would
occur under this alternative.
This recommendation
reflects
the
desires
of many Junction commercial
property
owners,
particularly representatives of
West
Seattle
Trusteed Properties, and their view that structured parking and new commercial
development
leconomic
revitalization
will not
occur
if
building
heights are
restricted to
6S-fee . This
recommendation
also is favored by the West
Seattle Chamber of
Commerce and by the
Junction
SIA.
There
are number of tradeoffs associated with
the
height limitation alternatives.
As noted
previously, small parcel
size
may
make
it difficult to accommodate
parking
on-site with new
development
and
multiple
property ownership may
make parcel
assembly difficult. The presence
of
environmental constraints
may
make below-grade parking unfeasible
in
some areas. However,
the
Junction commercial
core is located in
designated pedestrian
zone
which allows
for
reductions in parking requirements
and for shared
or joint-use
parking
which
could
address Ihese
Iypes of issues. Also, there are number of parcels (many contiguous) in single ownership that
represent
good
development
potential. Development at 8S-feet could accommodate greater
employment
and
residential
density, but would Iikely
generate
more
traffic
and parking impacts,
as
well
as
visual/aesthetic impacts. These could be mitigated
to some extent
through application of
design guidelines. There is no evidence to support claims that development
at
either
6S-feet
or al
8S-feet
is financially unfeasible. Specific site constraints, building
design
and markel conditions,
among
olher factors, will determine Ihe financial success
of
future development. In general,
an
85-
foot
building
will
have
higher per
square
fool
costs because of existing building code requirements
for
reinforced concrele construction,
and
other design issues (including pressurized elevators,
ventilalion
requiremenls, sprinklers, etc.).
No
pro forma analysis has been
prepared for
either
scenario.
Secause of its
location
and visibilily as
the
commercial
center
of Ihe Junction, the community feels
Ihat
high
design quality is
particularly
important in this area. To enhance pedestrian
orienlation
and architectural
variety,
design
guidelines
will be developed
to include modulalion,
canopies,
signage, lighling and other
design
elements consislent with
the
Junction's hisloric architeclural
style and wHh the communily's desire
for
small
town
almosphere.
The
design folio is the
firsl
step in
this
process.
Goal: Create more
compact mixeduse
commercial core located
between
4
11
and
44
th
Avenues
SW from SW
Genesee Street to
SW
Edmunds Street.
Policy: Encourage mix of community supported businesses, including
locally
owned and operated businesses as well as smaller, local
or
regional
chain stores.
Policy: Encourage
ground
level commercial spaces in Ihe Neighborhood
Commercial zones within
the
commercial
core area.
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Seattle
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Nelghborhood
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Recommendation:
With
representatives of
Friends
of
the
Junction,
The
West Seattle
Merchants Association (BIA), the
Chamber
of
Commerce and
West
Seattle Trusteed
Properties, work to develop specific design guidelines
for
both existing
and
new buildings
and streetscape
based
on
Preparing Your
Own
Design Guidelines
A
Handbook for Seattle s
Neighborhoods
and
input
from the Department
of
Design, Construction
and
Land Use (DCLU). (See
discussion
of
Design
Guidelines in Land Use
Section).
Recommendation: In
appropriate commercially
zoned
areas outside the
commercial
core,
allow
single-purpose
residential
as an outright permitted
use and/or open space
to
fultill
commercial
requiremen .
Traffic
Flow and
~
~ ~ ~ m s w e _ I ~ : [J
::; =;::: 1::: t r
; : : : ; : : : = 1:::::1.
.
d -;:: : SPR Single Purpose Residential . g.
S ~ ~
~ ~ P e r m J t t e d l n o m m e r c i a J Z O n e s
_1
\
t=
___ F r:
q
OutsJde CommerclaJ Core
i=
~ I I I E
; : ~
I ~ - - I I ~
f F
E
t I ;;;; E
~ ~
:llgJE3j
Pedestrian
Safety to
and within
the
usiness Core
Recognizing that California
Avenue
SW serves not only as
the
main access route
into,
out of, and
within
the
commercial
area, but
also is part of the main
north-south
arterial routes
serving West
Seattle,
a
comprehensive set of access and circulation policies
and
recommendations were
developed for he Junction
commercial
area. Traffic
and
travel speeds have been identified by the
community
as
important
neighborhood
concems.
In particular,
traffic
along
California Avenue may
discourage
pedestrian
uses
and actually detract from he
success
of retail businesses. Visibility for
some
stores may be
a
problem
due
to
traffic
f1ow. Some type of traffic
calming
or other strategy to
slow traffic has been suggested,
particularly
in
the
area
between
SW
Edmunds
Street and SW
Oregon Street.
Other strateg es include
creating
a
gateway to the business district
with improved
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pedestrian
and
vehicular connections; pedestrian safety improvements,
such as
crosswalks,
curb
bulbs and curb extensions; street
and
public space lighting improvements;
Iane
configurations
and
improved signal
coordination
and improved
bicycie connections
and facilities. (See
Transportation
Section) connections
Access to
the
Junction commercial
core from
Fauntleroy
Way SW and from
residential areas east
of
Fauntleroy
for
pedestrians,
and
to
some
exlent
vehicular
traffic
as
well, is hampered by heavy
traffic volumes and high speeds as
well
as
inadequate
and unattractive pedestrian facilities. The
prohibited
lefi
turn from northbound
Fauntleroy
Way onto SW
Alaska Street
also
limits
access
to
the commercial area particularty motorists unfamiliar
with
the area,
like
ferry users,
who
do not
know
to use
California
Avenue SW or SW Edmunds
Street instead
of SW
Alaska
Street.
Goal:
Undertake
street, sidewalk
and building
fayade
improvements along California
Avenue
SW
between
SW
Genesee and
SW Edmunds Streets.
Policy: Improve
safety
and
convenience of Pedestrian access and circulation within
and
to from the Junction commercial area.
Policy: Maintain smooth
traffic operations
along
California
Avenue SW through the
commercial
area.
Recommendation:
Develop aprogram to repair, replace
and widen
existing sidewalks in
the
business
district. Phase in as new
development
occurs.
Recommendation:
Study the best methods of
improving
traffic
flow
through the
commercial core.
The study should
analyze such
means as
Iane
re-
configurations, improved signal coordination,
removal
of the existing "scramble"
ligh , andlor other measures identified
in
the
c ~ y s
"Streets that Work" program.
Recommendation: Provide
curb bulbs, curb
extensions, pedestrian
refuge
islands
and improved
crosswalk
design along
California Avenue
SW and
Fauntleroy Way
SW.
Recommendation: Encourage the City of Seattle, Historic Seattle,
FOJ,
Junction
BIA and West
Seattle
Chamber of Commerce to
identify
local "Iandmarks' and
develop
apool of
resources for
fac;ade
improvements.
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Goal: Encourage more
midblock pedestrian connections that
Iink
public
parking
lots
and businesses
along California Avenue SWas
new development
or re
development occurs.
Recommendation: Identify
and
develop new pedestrian connections
at
various
locations
along
California Avenue SW to provide access to public parking and to
promote pedestrian circulation throughout
the
district. The
areas are
envisioned
as plazas with retail space cafe seating and
other
pedestrian amenities.
Connections
are also encouraged in
conjunction with
redevelopment and or new
construction projects
Recommendation:
Work
with
landowners
and
the
communityto
improve the existing
breezeway with signage
art
lighting and
other
amenities.
Goal:
Create acommunity gateway with landscaping improved crosswalks and a
sign or
landmark
element at
Fauntleroy
Way
SW
and
th
Avenue
SW.
Policy: Improve pedestrian and
vehicular
access to the commercial area particularly
to/from Fauntleroy
Way
SW.
Recommendation:
Develop
an
Avalon Way-Fauntleroy Way-Alaska
Street
pedestrian corridor
from
35
th
Avenue SW to
California
enue SW
to facilitate safe
and
convenient
pedestrian
circulation.
Improve sidewalks crosswalks
street
lighting
and
traffic
signals. Provide benches trees
and
other pedestrian amenities.
arking
Repeatedly
parking
has been
noted
as
n
issue within
the community.
There is general
consensus
among merchants
that existing public parking
lots are
not well
marked
and
many
shoppers do not
know about
them.
With the
exception
of
on-street
parking parking
lots are
typically located in areas not visible to
or
from shoppers destinations. Priority
has been
given to
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better communicating existing parking lots through signage
and or
parking
map.
Longer-term
recommendations
will
be coordinated
with
West Seattle Trusteed
Properties._
On-street employee parking
has
been identified
as
op priority. Currently,
parkinglots
provided
by West
Seattle Trusteed Properties
and funded through
merchant
fees are
for customers
only.
Employees must park
on the
street (not n front of businesses). Increasingly, employees must park
in neighboring residential areas. This sometimes causes confticts with residents.
The
recommendation
is
to examine existing parking arrangements
to
find
ways to
accommodate
employee parking,
such as
shared
use
of facilities.
It is
anticipated that
the
Friends of
the
Junction,
Junction
SIA, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce
and
West Seattle Trusteed
Properties
will
work
with
area employers and City staft to develop appropriate solutions.
Goal:
Encourage
lhe
provision
of parking
for
bolh shoppers
and
employees.
Recommendation:
Setter communicate existing parking options. This
could
include, for example,
signage
and or
parking map to be
distributed
by
merchants.
Recommendation:
Coordinate employee parking issues
and
needs with West
Seattle
Trusteed Properties, Junction SIA, West Seattle Chamber and local
merchants.
Examine
existing parking
arrangements to
tind ways
to accommodate
employer and employee
concems. This
could
include
shared use
of existing
parking facilities and
future
development of oint-use parking
facility as new
development
warrants.
Building
and
Streetscape
Improvements
Today, the
Junction commercial
core
consists predominantly
of
one-story
commercial
buildings
constructed prior
to 1940, with the
earliest constructed
n 1910
and
the
most recent
n 1970. The
median year
built
is
1929. Most
of
the
older
buildings underwent extensive fayade changes
n
the
1950's
and
1970's.
Two
notable exceptions
are the
Campbell Suilding
(built
in
1929)
and the
Hamm
Suilding (built in 1925). The
unattractiveness
of many of the buildings,
poor
upkeep, and
lack of
basic cleanliness
(from sidewalks to trash collection to restrooms)
fosters
many
residents'
perceptions
of rundown and unsuccessful business
district.
The legacy of
deferred
maintenance
for both public
and private spaces
and facilities contributes
to
this perception. Frequently, buildings
have entranceways
oft the alley, where
parking
is
located. The rear entrances of
many
buildings n
the Junction
are
dirty, littered and
lack
any amenities
(adequate
lighting,
signage,
etc.).
There
are also some very
visible
and long time vacancies n the
heart
of the Junction
that
contribute to
the
perception of rundown and unsuccessful business district. These include
the
US
Sank Suilding at the southeast
comer
of
California Avenue
SW and SW
Alaska Street, the
vacant lot located
on
the northwest comer of SW Alaska Street and 42
nd
Avenue
SW, and the
several
vacant
buildings
on the
northeast
comer of the same
intersection.
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Outdoor se ting and
plantings
can
help
increase street
activity and
tha
vitality
of
the business
diStrict.
There
have been
a
number
of
successes that
the
community
would
like to
build
upon and
use
as
models for the future. Some
are
just small improvements that
ma
de
big
impressions.
The
Soap
Box
recently
moved into the space
at
4529 Califomia Avenue
SW
(formerly
Helium Roses). The
business owners cfeanecl
and
repainted the
exterior fayade
and
renovated
the
interior
space.
Curious Kidstuff (formerly
Murray's),
a
store selling non-
violent toys, music,
arts
and crafts,
opened at 4740 California Avenue
SW
in
May,
1998. The store owners removed
sheets
of old
corrugated iron that
covered the
original 1928
fayade and
upper
windows. They
cleaned up
the
exterior and
totally
revamped the
interior
which
hadn't been touched in almost 30-
years. Jack Menashe. owner of
Menashe
and
Sons
Jewelers, undid"
a 1950'5
exterior on his
1928 building and restored
the
clock to its
original
splendor. Tom Henry,
owner of
JF Henry which
sells
fine
china and housewares, also undid"
an earlier exterior
remodeling
effort
and uncovered
banks
of windows in the process.
The community sees
this
area as
a
vibrant
retai
shopping district. Because of
its
centrallocation
and high visibility, merchants
feei
Ihat
buildings and streetscapes, including alieys, should be
upgraded. Street furnishings, such as
kiosks,
banners and benches would be provided to inform,
communicale
and
altract. Where appropriale, alleys
would
be improved
1
provide
belter
pedestrian
access and
circulation throughout the
commercial
area. Improvements
could
include
lighting
and
landscaping,
removal
of exposecl garbage dumpsters,
and
utilizing
open space
requiremenls
at the rear of buildings. Working with
the
arts community, these interesting
and
inviling
outdoor
and
slreetscape
spaces would provide settings for business, art and community
activities. New
street
lighting, canopies and awnings consistent with the Junction's hisloric past
would be
installed.
Sidewalks
would
be replaced as new development occurs.
People need
an interesting environment
for walking. Store
display
windows
provide
this interest
and
serve as an important marketing
tool for
businesses
at
street
level.
The interaction
between
inside and
outside activities
also adds
an important element of safety to
the community. The
business community feels that this interaction
is
important
to
the
vitality
of
the West Seattle
Junction
neighborhood as weli critical to maintaining the relationship of interior and exterior uses at
street level. Their
goal
is to avoid
the closed-otr
look of
Washington
Mutual Network Services.
Where some privacy is wanted, recommendations include etching
the
lower portions of windows,
installing art glass (not mirrored glass),
or
some other way of allowing for
the
necessary interaction
without disrupting business people.
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Goal:
Develop
design
guidelines
on
California
Avenue to reinforee pedestrian
orientation
and
enhanee
the
small town
eharacter
of
the
area.
Policy: Streets, buildings and public
spaces
should
be
designed
to ahuman scale to promote
pedestrian
access and safety, and should be well
lighled
and
clean.
Policy:
Commercial
buildings
should have
inviting
store fronts instead of blank
walls or open lots.
Policy: The
streetscape
should be pedestrian
friendly through the use of landscaping, lighting,
art, and streel furniture.
Policy: Encourage
more trees,
flowers
and green
spaces in
the
business
district to
enhance the
pedestrian atmosphere
and
general appearance.
Policy: Encourage
public art
in the commercial
core.
\
Recommendation:
With representatives of Friends of the Junction,
The
West Seattle
Merchants Association BIA),
the
Chamber of Commerce
and West
Seattle Trusteed
Properties,
work
to
develop specific
design
guidelines
for both existing and new
buildings
and
streetscape
based on Preparing vour own Design Guidelines AHandbook for
Seattle s
Neighborhoods
and
input
from DCLU, FOJ and community
Complete
within
one
year of
plan
adoption.
See
discussion of
Design
Guidelines in
Land
Use Section)
Reeommendation:
Implement already identified areas for lighting improvements.
Working
with
FOJ, Seattle
City Light,
West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and Junction
BIA, identify additional areas for
improvemenl
and coordinate light standard
replacement
with
street and sidewalk improvements. Priority areas for increased Iighting in the near
future
include:
37th Ave SW
45 Ave SW
Parking
lots
between California
and 42nd
SW
37th St between
Myrtle
and Willow and
alley to east
Alleys
between
44th
and 45th and Genesee and Dakota
Reeommendation: Provide benches in locations throughout the business district. Key
areas
include
the Senior Center, Town Hali and
future
playhouse
on
California
Avenue
SW;
areas proposed for public art
installation;
the vacant area at 42
nd
and SW
Alaska;
the
triangle between the Feed and Seed and
fumiture store
on California Avenue SW; the
passageway
between California Avenue SW and the public parking lot
in
the
rear to the
west; and in
the vicinity
of new green spaces such as
former
City Light
substations
California, Dawson and Dakota).
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Recommendation:
Provide bike racks in locations throughout the
business
district. Work
with merchants and local school children
to
identify appropriate locations.
Key
areas
include
bus stops and
public
parking
lots.
Recommendation: Work with FOJ
Junction SIA
West
Seattle Chamber of
Commerce
merchants
and
West
Seattle
Trusteed Properties
1
support planling
and
upkeep
of
green
spaces.
Recommendation: Work wilh ArtsWest FOJ Junction SIA West Seattle Chamber of
Commerce merchants
and
West Seattfe Trusteed Properties to identify potentiallocations
for public art
in the
business district. Identify local
artists
and seek their input and
participation. Identify funding sources for initial projects and incorporate others
as
new
development
occurs.
Install public art
in the following
locations:
The
vacant
area
al 42
nd
and SW
Alaska
The
triangle
between Feed and Seed and
fumilure store
on California
Avenue
SW
Passageway between California Avenue
SW and
parking 101
Business
District
Implementation
Activities
The
above recommendations identify implementation activitles
designed to achieve the vision
embodied in
the business
district s
goals and objectives. These activities are
specific
actions to be
taken
by the community the city or in partnership
and
include a
range
of
regulatory changes
and
capital improvements as well as
merchant-sponsored
activities. Some items generally may be
implemented
through existing
city
programs
and/or community
organizations within the next 3-5 years
while
other items may
require
further
analysis
to
determine
feasibility
policy
implications
technical considerations or funding sources.
The
priority and time
frame for these recommendations are identifled
in
the
Approval
and
Adoption
Matrix that
accompanies
this
plan.
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ransportation
Transportation
is an
issue
that has vital
impacts, both
positive and
negative,
on
the vita/ily and
livability of
a
community.
The viabi/ily of local
businesses
and the
overall
character of
the
neighborhood are both affected by
transportation
facilities, often in
conflicting
ways. As
the
hub
of
West Seattle,
the Junction's
street
system is
a
combination
of busy
arterials, that provide
access
to
Junction
businesses
and
to
hrough
destinations,
and
quiet
residential streets.
In the big picture, West Seattle
is a
peninsula with an
extremely
limited
number
of
connections
to
the
rest
of the
cily
and the regional highway system. With
growth
and development in West Seattle
and with
increasing traffic congestion
on
he
roads to which the
West Seattle linkages connect,
access
to from West Seattle is becoming increasingly difficult. Congestion and delay on West
Seattle's
external connections
degrades accessibility and
mobility
for residents and
businesses
alike.
The
issue
of West
Seattle
access is being addressed in
a
separate
study
in
which FOJ
is
a
participant
with other West
Seattle neighborhoods.
Locally, outreach
has
shown us that
pedestrian
and bicycle access and safely
is
one of the highest
priorily
transportation
issues. At the same time,
maintaining
the capacily of
our
arterial
s reets
is
also important. The Transportation Committee, therefore, identified five areas
on
which to focus
our planning efforts. These include the Junction Corn
merci
l Area Access nd Circulation, he
Fauntleroy
Way
Corridor, the
California
Avenue
SW
Corridor, the 35
th
Avenue SW
Corridor, and
Pedestrian
and
Bicycle
Improvements. Each of these is discussed below.
Additionally, the
desire
was
trequently
expressed for
a
ransit center serving the Junction. Again,
FOJ is participating with other West
Seattle neighborhoods
to study
transit
service to the entire
peninsula.
The
preliminary recommendations
of
that
study are
included in
this
section.
The
Junction's
Commercial Area Access/Circulation
Program
(SW Edmunds Street- SW
Oregon
Street.
44th
Avenue SW-35th Avenue SW)
The
main
arterial spine" of
the
Junction Commercial Area is
the
segment of California Avenue
SW
between SW Edmunds Street
and
SW
Oregon
Street.
This
segment of California Avenue
SW
serves
not
only
as
a
ma n access route into, out of, and within the commercial area,
but
it
also
is
part of one of the main
north-south arterial