19th Ave E continues to be a busy spot in Capitol Hill food and drink as another slice is falling into place along the redevelopment-reinvigorated artery connecting several area schools and some of the neighborhood’s wealthiest, leafiest streets.
Zeeks Pizza Capitol Hill is lined up to anchor the street level retail space at The Shea, a 33-unit mixed-use development planned to complete construction this summer. It will be the Puget Sound-area pizza chain’s 14th location. The restaurant space will stretch from E Mercer along 19th Ave E and will neighbor street longtimer Monsoon. Continue reading →
View of the planned project on the northwest corner of 19th and Mercer building from Talulah’s patio. (Image: Public47 Architects)
It is out with the old and in with the new at the site of two planned Capitol Hill developments entering their final phase of design review Wednesday night. The original Piecora’s building at 14th and Madison was demolished last year and a big, old cedar tree at 19th and Mercer is on deck to come down in order to make way for two new mixed-used projects that will add a total of 172 market-rate units to the neighborhood.
The projects going before the East Design Review Board will also be adding highly visible commercial spaces on bustling corners, though there are no clues yet as to who might be moving in.
1830 E Mercer St.
Land Use Application to allow a 5-story structure containing 32 apartment units and 2,260 sq. ft. of retail at street level. Parking for 10 vehicles to be provided below grade and surface parking for 2 at the alley. Existing structure is to remain. View Design Proposal (26 MB) Review Meeting: April 13, 2016 6:30 PM, Seattle University, 901 12th Ave, STCN Student Center 130 Review Phase: REC–Recommendation See All Reviews Project Number: 3020860 View Permit Status | View Land Use Notice Planner: Beth Hartwick
First up will be the five-story apartment building with 32 market rate units planned for the northwest corner of 19th and Mercer. The Public47 Architects design calls for a 2,350-square-foot corner commercial storefront and 12 below-grade parking spaces.
Neighbors have been weighing in on the project since CHS first reported on the development plans from property owners Glenn MacDonald and Amanda Twiss last year. While, ahem, creative differences with architects typically top the list of concerns during design review, plans to remove a potentially “exceptional” red cedar tree on the property have drawn strong objections from neighbors.
Others said they would be sad to see the tree go, but are pleased to have more commercial space added to 19th and Mercer.
Unfortunately, the red cedar will in all likelihood be coming down as part of the plans supported by the design review board in a previous meeting. However, construction will not require the demolition of any existing structures, sparing Monsoon from the cedar’s fate. Continue reading →
Meanwhile on Melrose… (Image: @amykatehorn via Twitter)
With one more week to go until the Kingfish Cafe marks its final Sunday brunch on Capitol Hill, the gods unleashed their wet anger on Seattle, sending down a saturating deluge from 19th and Mercer to Melrose… and beyond. A line 40 to 50 people deep waiting for the cafe’s 10 AM opening Sunday withstood the early brunt of the slightly unexpected downpour.
UPDATE: Kingfish has announced an update for its hours of business on its final weekend at 19th and Mercer:
Please note the hours for our last days of operation;
Thurs January 22, dinner 5 pm until 9 30 pm
Fri January 23, dinner (only) 5 pm until 10 30 pm
Sat January 24th brunch 10 am until 2 pm
Sat January 24th dinner 5 pm until 10 30pm
Sun January 25 dinner (only) 4 pm until 9 30 pm
No reservatios and expect longer than usual waits.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you.
Meanwhile, this storm drain near the Starbucks Roastery at Melrose and Pike couldn’t take the pressure. No reports of damage, yet, from inside the $30+ million facility. SPU says the water came from overflowing storm drains in the area, not a water main break.
Power has remained on through the area this morning as fans await the noontime broadcast of the hometown broadcast of the Seahawks conference championship game. Overnight, a power outage hit some areas of the Hill leaving microwave clocks flashing but most sleepers blissfully unaware.
The National Weather Service predicts the high winds and stormy conditions will “ease” through the day. Of course, the NWS also was responsible for this particular component of today’s forecast: “Chance of precipitation is 80%”
That didn’t take long. Tuesday night, as CHS broke the news that Capitol Hill’s Kingfish Cafewas abruptly closing this month after 18 years at 19th and Mercer, we told you the Coaston sisters had an idea for something new but weren’t quite ready to reveal their plans. Wednesday night, Laurie and Leslie Coaston told KING TV that they plan to open up a small chain of takeout joints in neighborhoods across Seattle:
“We’re going to be opening small to-go places,” said Laurie. “We hope to open about five or so in the city.” A series of Kingfish Cafe’s are planned for neighborhoods around Seattle, though no formal plans were discussed. By opening several smaller establishments, the owners said a variety of costs will go down. Meanwhile, the food will stay the same.
As we reported, the sisters say the planned January 25th closure of the original Kingfish is a happy occasion for them and not a matter of a financial issue forcing them out of business. But the Coastons did tell KING the decision to change formats came because of the rising cost of rent and doing business at 19th and Mercer.
In the meantime, we’re told the building’s owner is seeking a new tenant for the space.
UPDATE: Kingfish has announced an update for its hours of business on its final weekend at 19th and Mercer:
Please note the hours for our last days of operation;
Thurs January 22, dinner 5 pm until 9 30 pm
Fri January 23, dinner (only) 5 pm until 10 30 pm
Sat January 24th brunch 10 am until 2 pm
Sat January 24th dinner 5 pm until 10 30pm
Sun January 25 dinner (only) 4 pm until 9 30 pm
No reservatios and expect longer than usual waits.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you.
