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19th and Mercer block party marks big changes on Capitol Hill’s quiet side

Hello Robin's Wehl Martin and Molly Moon Neitzel (right) delivering cookies to the 19th & Mercer crews this summer (Images: CHS)

Hello Robin’s Wehl Martin and Molly Moon Neitzel (right) delivering cookies to the 19th & Mercer crews this summer (Images: CHS)

Neighbors around 19th and Mercer will get their first feel for just how activated their stretch of 19th Ave E will be with a celebration next Saturday of the new mixed-use apartment building at the corner featuring a new Linda Derschang restaurant, a Molly Moon’s ice cream shop combined with a new cookie bakery and a new Capitol Hill “general store.”

no_treesWhile only a preview as the aforementioned venues as their spaces in the building continue to be built out, next Saturday’s 19th & Mercer building party marks the true start of a transition for the area from quieter, sleepier days.

CHS first reported on the four-story apartment building slated to replace the old Holiday Craft store previously standing at the corner in September of 2011. We looked at the design of the Weinstein AU-designed cedar and steel building here. Including around 50 apartment units, the building also was planned to add below ground parking for around 35 cars plus a 16-car surface lot. Pre-leasing of the units began this summer with studios running from $1,325 to $1,575, one-bedroom fetching up to $2,050 and the five two-bedroom units listed at between $2,725 and $3,125. The five lofts in the building top out at $2,650.

Below, you’ll eventually find some A-list Capitol Hill neighbors. Derschang’s first new project since Bait Shop, much anticipated Tallulah’s will settle in on the north end of the ground-floor retail directly across E Mercer from the venerable Kingfish Cafe. Envisioned a more grown up Linda’s joint, Tallulah’s will also have a likely to be a large and busy patio and seating for around 75. Derschang originally planned Tallulah’s as a brunch and dinner type venture but we’ll be checking back in with her soon to find out more about how things will shake out as we near Tallulah’s planned opening in November.

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Inside a model unit (Image: 19th & Mercer)

Inside a model unit (Image: 19th & Mercer)

Neighboring Tallulah’s will be another big-name venture as Fuel’s Dani Cone and Skillet’s Josh Henderson are teaming up with the people behind Retrofit Home on a new corner store concept, Cone and Steiner. CHS reported details of the grocery mart, home goods and etc. retail venture here in September.

Also sandwiched in the retail portion of the new project will be a double-fun pairing of a new Molly Moon’s ice cream shop mixed with a venture from Capitol Hill food+drink newbie, Hello Robin. Owner Robin Wehl Martin plans a cookie bakery and cafe including some exotic flavors — habanero chocolate chip, sweet onion and pecan — along with some traditional favorites.

You’ll find cookies and more on Saturday, October 12th:

19th & Delicious Block Party
19th & Delicious is a celebration of all the amazing food (and culture) on Capitol Hill’s 19th Avenue.
Come out to see why so many people love this little slice of Capitol Hill and to welcome new entrepreneurs to the neighborhood.
Savory Snacks from Tallulah’s and Kingfish Cafe
Sweets from Hello RobinMolly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream, and High 5 Pie
Buzz from Fuel Coffee
Live music by Night Cadet
Games from Moonjar
Tours of 19th & Mercer Apartments
Benefiting the Jubilee Women’s Center

With change at 19th and Mercer, other parts of the leafy, nearly suburban street are also seeing upgrades and transitions including a townhome project adjacent the nearby Meany school campus — itself about to undergo a $14.2 million overhaul — and some big changes coming to a longtime food and drink player on the street. More on that soon. Neighbors also might notice that one of the trees diligently protected during the 19th & Mercer building’s construction has now been removed. SDOT says it turns out, the 19th Ave E tree wasn’t fitting in with the sidewalk replacement project and was deemed necessary to remove. 19th Ave E is now a little less leafier — and, soon, will be a little less suburban, too.

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JayH
JayH
10 years ago

Saturday is October 12th, not the 10th. Thursday is October 10th.

JT
JT
10 years ago

More parking spaces than units? When are we going to get parking maximums in this town?

DK
DK
10 years ago
Reply to  JT

35 spaces for 50 units. Plus 16 ground spots for the businesses. And then the overflow, the room mates, the partners, the friends get to take up every inch of parking on the streets.

evon
evon
10 years ago
Reply to  JT

Yeah, by one space. If you think people who can afford those rents don’t own cars you’re a bobblehead.

Wes
Wes
10 years ago
Reply to  evon

You’re a bobble head if you think everyone living there will own a car. I know plenty of people with six figure salaries that don’t own cars.

Jerry Garcia
Jerry Garcia
10 years ago
Reply to  evon

I recently leased a unit in this building. I love it and I don’t own a car.

Wes
Wes
10 years ago

You will survive, Capitol Hill is not a car dependent neighborhood. It never has, and it will only become less car dependent as it gets denser and transit improves. If you want a free parking spot 10 feet from the door of each of your destinations there’s this wonderful place known as the east side.

ERF
ERF
10 years ago
Reply to  Wes

I think you meant almost everyplace else.

ann
ann
10 years ago

This is all pretty exciting!

Patrick Foley - Lake Union Partners

Justin, not to worry, we are replacing the one tree which had to be removed on 19th due to problems with the root structure with two new mature trees that will reach approximately 16 feet in height on day one. We are not into cutting down nice trees in the projects we develop in the City if we can help it. We hope the neighborhood likes the building when it is finished.

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[…] another new business coming to the block of Saturday’s party to celebrate the soon-to-open 19th and Mercer building. Across the street, a former woodwork shop […]

ann
ann
10 years ago

It was great to see that the numerous and unsightly dumpsters (mostly owned by Kingfish Café apparently) were moved back off the sidewalk for the Block Party.
Is it possible to keep them back in the alley? They are such an eyesore!

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[…] was part of the fun at this past weekend’s block party at 19th and Mercer #gallery-2 { margin: auto; } #gallery-2 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: […]