If developers get approval, the old Fred Meyer and Greenwood Market at
NW 3rd & 85th will be torn down and replaced with a new development.
The plans include demolishing the current Fred Meyer and the Greenwood Market and redevelop the property with a new, larger Fred Meyer and 200-300 apartments. The site would also include “additional retail space to be occupied by small, boutique retailers and restaurants. Plans also include a public plaza for community gatherings and events,” a Fred Meyer spokesperson has said.
The Design Review Board will be holding an early design review meeting on July 13th, 6:30 p.m. at Ballard High School. The public will be allowed to give their opinions on the plans. Our sister site, PhinneyWood, has covered the new development extensively and the response has been strong on both for and against it. Fred Meyer will be holding its own meeting on July 9th to get input from the community. That meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Phinney Neighborhood Association, in the brick building’s Community Hall.
Meeting set for new northend development
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Wow, what a change in tone by FM!
For me, it's sad to lose Greenwood Market, but the prospect of doing something useful with those huge tracts of blacktop is really, really appealing. Right now it makes that part of Greenwood feel like blighted suburbia; some successful businesses and housing there could really pull the center of gravity of Greenwood to the west.
It sounds like the Mire is actually doing what it can to listen to the community. I hope that's more than just talk.
With the growth of mixed use spaces and all the empty retail spots therein, I'm still wondering what sort of retailers would be a good fit for the ground level of the apartments and condos in our area. We already have an assortment of drugstores, banks, postal/shipping services, coffee shops, restaurants, etc. Can our area support more? And as to the boutique shops, aren't the ones already here struggling to stay open?
Just curious what others think about this. There are so many retail-for-lease signs all over and not much seems to be happening.
I hope so too. They seemed to have trouble taking any commentary from neighbors at the last meeting. My mom called them arrogant, and she rarely has anything bad to say about anyone.
It does sound like they're willing to listen to concerns this time, though. And maybe even address some of them.
losing Greenwood Market would be a shame. It may be a little more costly, but the selection and “organic-ness” of their food was always a treat. I note the artist renditions don't show much parking. How do they intend to address a lack of decent parking in a sidewalk-less neighborhood? And yes, it doesn't seem like the area needs more little shops that'll just go out of business in 6 months.
I'm sure it's all below-ground parking.
I thought our economy was in the dumps
Meghan – Fred Meyer plans to have a three-story parking garage at the back end of the development, by 87th St. There will also be some parking on the roof by the garden center, for a total of about 800 spots for both the stores and residential units. We'll post a full report with more drawings after the July 9 community meeting on PhinneyWood.
If this project broke ground tomorrow, it would be at least 2 yrs before any store would open. So, given that the neighbors will drag this one for at least a year or two. Opening day is at least 3-4 yrs out. By then, we will all be spending like the old days once again.
(disclaimer: I totally support this project)
Do it. That Fred Meyer is a dump.
I think that while losing a local(ish) business is a shame, both of those buildings gross me out and I think that this development could really clean up the area. I just hope they can get this done in a reasonable amount of time….
Okay, I'm confused — I thought the Fred Meyer expansion was all part of the same project that's going in where Thriftko and the fabric store used to be. Did that get scaled back? Is this a new iteration, or someone else's idea entirely, or did I have it all wrong before?
These mixed-use projects need to incorporate office space for businesses, not more retail and boutique. Look what has happened in Ballard. Office buildings that were great for small offices and businesses were torn down to develop housing. Now small accounting firms, graphic designers, dentists etc. have to set up elsewhere and commute to their offices. This used to be a community where people could live and work in the same community. There are communities like Manhattan Beach (I am told) where developers had to include office space in their projects. Our communities don't need more hair/nail salons, coffee shops, boutiques and bistros, we need office space where business can be done. Let the snarky comments commence.
I so agree. Seattle is overrun with failed boutiques and coffee shops and first floors all over town are sitting empty. Admittedly so are the condos on top but the empty store fronts leave giant holes on our streets.
This isn't a bad project in itself, but its main goal seems to be for Kroger's (which owns Fred Meyer) to eliminate some competition: the Greenwood Market.
There is ground-floor retail in the new developments in Ballard; it's just rented at bubble prices. Since the real-estate bubble is still deflating, they're priced above what anyone who reasonably might want to use the space can afford. Probably this will be more of the same. I suppose someone is making some money from all this development, but I'm damned if I can figure who; buyers and tenants can't pay bubble prices any more.
Why do all condos looking completely identical? Those new ones always have that soon to be dated looking roof. Lame.
How will they prevent it from sinking?
For the same reason that all houses built during any time period look exactly alike. It’s just a matter of what is in style at any given moment. Of course they will look dated. Everything eventually does……until it becomes retro, then vintage, then antique.
Considering they lease out the land where Greenwood Market sits they have no need to do a remodel just to get rid of the place.
I assume you meant to say it is NOT leased out at bubble prices.
Oh good! 300 times more traffic!
And not a lot of sidewalks in that area. Those were just two neighbor concerns I'm hoping they have the guts to address this time.
Has anyone addressed the concern about the peat bog that exists north of 85th and west of Greenwood? My understanding is that when Safeway went in there was a good amount of damage sustained by the neighborhood houses. Safeway diverted water away from the job site so it would not flood, BUT also diverted water away from the peat bog… which acts like a wet sponge… if the sponge dries it then contracts… and you can imagine what happens to the houses; extreme settling and cracked slabs, etc… Home Owners insurance does not cover that sort of damage. Just take a walk around the streets and see how the road has fallen.
I am SO totally behind the aesthetics and function of this project, I think it is a great idea. Sad to see the market go, agree that small biz offices would benefit us in the area than simply more boutiques… BUT what are they going to do to protect the integrity of the bog, thus my house? Does Kroger care if they do major structural damage to my house (which is N of 85th and W of greenwood) or your house which may be many blocks away? This project is going to have a big underground scope – how are they going to prevent diverting ground water thus preventing damage to the neighborhood?
Check out the link below for more info on the 2003/4 study & I will see you at the meetings 7/9 & 7/13!
http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Research/GreenwoodSu…