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The city says there is still time to submit public comments on the land use decision around a planned seven-story affordable apartment project that would require demolition of Broadway’s 118-year-old, two-story Wilshire Building.
CHS reported here on the plans for the Broadway Urbaine project that would be fast-tracked and not have to pass through the city’s design review process because it would add much-needed affordable housing.
While there would be no required design review, the land use review underway by city officials could represent the only opportunity for community input on the project. While the official deadline for land use comments has passed, a city spokesperson said the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections will consider new public comments “up until a decision is completed on the proposal.”
The two-story commercial building currently home to the Jai Thai restaurant, a collection of businesses including a Mud Bay pet supply store location, plus 14 upper floor apartment units has generated about 25 comments to date. Many echo one submission siding with a local historian’s recommendation “that the owner be required to submit a landmark nomination prior to any permit approval for proposed demolition and redevelopment.” Others, meanwhile, say they support the new housing.
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What will happen to Jai Thai?
Maybe you could invest some of that ransom money in the building and it’ll all work out.
How many 118 year old buildings are on Capitol Hill. And one block off it’s main intersection? Please leave us some history.
Is there anything of significance about the building? Or is it just old? In other words, is it justified for the city to spend tax dollars to preserve this building? If it is, by all means, let’s keep it.
If it’s just old and and some are using preservation to slow down changes, let them open a gofund account and buy the building.
Here’s some of the building’s history, seems significant enough to warrant closer review by the landmarks board: https://ba-kground.com/wilshire-building-broadway-seattle/
Most developers don’t care about our history. They only care about making money.
Neoliberalism at it’s finest. Way to go, posers.
JC Paul, ok, so what are you that makes you so much better than everyone else? Truly curious.
Removing this building from the fabric of the historic Broadway district would be an act of civic vandalism. Have you seen what they are proposing for the site? It is a hideous box, with no relation to the neighborhood character. There is an ugly Chase Bank building across the street with a huge, under-utilized surface parking lot. Why not put a seven-story building THERE instead (Chase Bank could move back into the retail space on the ground-level when the new building is completed). Problem solved! Stop tearing down irreplaceable historic structures, once they’re gone – they’re gone forever!
Exactly.
It is not 14 apartments currently above Jai Thai. There are many small businesses.
Also The owners, Cannon Commercial bought the buidling from Lota in 2018, stopped taking good care of it letting filth collect and refusing tenant pleas for onsite management; then finally screwed over the small businessesin the building (some for decades: Hana) during 2020 of the pandemic. I can assure you they do not care about affordable housing units and will weasel out of it and build something boring and ugly with exactly Zero benefit to the neighborhood or low income residents.