We’re not sure what the neighborhood spray can kids or the art cart guy are going to do, but demolition of the converted warehouse at 10th and Union is planned to begin next week.

The work will mark the start of the construction process to create a 79-unit mixed-use apartment building on the backside of Pike/Pine. We reported recently on developer Seawest’s decision to slice about 20% of the retail space planned for the project. A developer’s rep told CHS the change was made to make more room for parking and common space in the building — not because of concerns about a flagging economy.

The demolition to make way for the 10th and E Union Apartments is the first new work to begin in a bit as a wave of projects around the Hill are underway. Demolition of the Undre Arms across the street might not be too far away. And a row of multi-story projects is in motion along Pine (in fact, work has started on the apartments being built at 15th and Pine.”

The developer of the 10th and Union project hasn’t confirmed the specific demolition date with CHS and given the logistics around tearing down a massive building and trucking it away, things could change. But expect the walls to start coming down — and the cranes to start going up — soon.