Monday, February 13, 2017

Three Story Townhome Application Submitted For North Laurelhurst, Submit Comments Now









A Land Use Application for another town home in the Windermere Circle area of north Laurelhurst, has been submitted. The existing structure, a one story 4 unit town home at 44th Avenue NE and NE 50th Street, will be demolished.

Comments about the project can be submitted to the City here and here is the environmental checklist.
 
Three other townhomes are already currently under construction in that area.
 
A neighbor said:
16 town homes each with a 4th story rooftop deck are currently under construction in quaint little historic Windermere Circle, the charming loop of duplexes and triplexes near Children's Hospital where most buildings are two and three story.  The transformation is going to be dramatic.
It makes for reduced home values. Towering 3-story homes (with 4th floor rooftop decks) reduce the value of the one- and two-story homes surrounding them. The smaller houses lose privacy, views and sunlight.   
Parking and traffic problems always follow. Each of these projects has off-street parking. But the parking arrangements (for the first and third projects listed in the document) are ridiculous.  
Like many row house projects, these garages will be very difficult to get a normal size car in and out. The owners will most likely use their garages for storage and park their cars on the street.  The streets around Windermere Circle are already extremely cramped and crowded.  
There are construction irritations for surrounding neighbors. With all three of these projects going at once in Windermere Circle, there's going to be noise, dust, and traffic issues for the folks living in the Circle, as well as the larger community.
 

Project #3025713 says it will be a  3-story, 6-unit rowhouse structure with attached garages. Environmental Review includes future unit lot subdivision.

A nearby neighbor said of the new project:

The new development is going to tower over all of the surrounding homes. The town homes will be very narrow, in order to fit six townhouses side-by-side on the lot with underground parking.
 

The Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC) contacted the City about tenant relocation assistance for current occupants of the town home saying:

Our families that will be affected are very stressed. Are there any provisions in the Code that require developers to provide assistance to families who must move due to the proposal—some kind of relocation assistance?  If so, what office is in charge of this?   These families have lived there for years.
 

Brandon, City Design Review Planner said that he has received many calls about tenant relocation assistance from current occupants of the town home.
 
The City Housing Ordinance Supervisor, Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections said about the Tenant Relocation Assistance Ordinance:

If residential tenants are going to be displaced by a project, the property owner or developer must apply for a Tenant Relocation License if the project meets the criteria The relocation fee applies to anyone who is displaced if they meet the income requirements 
The license covers all tenants in the building. Only low-income tenants receive relocation assistance  An application for a Tenant Relocation License must be made no later than the date on which an applicant applies for a master use permit, or if no MUP is required, at the time of construction permit application.  No permit can be issued until the Tenant Relocation License is issued.
 

LCC suggests that neighbors contact Brandon Cummings at 206) 684-0251 or Brandon.Cummings@seattle.gov. There appears to be income restrictions that trigger application of the tenant relocation assistance. 

The other three projects under construction are:
5048 Sand Point Way NE - 6 town homes built on one lot where 1950's triplex was demolished. Three town homes to face Sand Point Way NE and three town homes to face Sand Point Place NE
 
5027 44th Avenue NE - 4 town homes built on one lot where 1 story 1950's triplex demolished. 
#3024924
Land Use Application to subdivide one development site into four unit lots. The construction of residential units is under Project #6477308. This subdivision of property is only for the purpose of allowing sale or lease of the unit lots. Development standards will be applied to the original parcel and not to each of the new unit lots
#6552793
5001 44th Avenue NE - 6 town homes built (each to be only 12' wide) on one lot where 2 story 1950's triplex currently exists. Plans under review with City.   
 

 

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