UPDATE:  The Council today passed legislation that gives the green light to the upgraded residential and commercial district in Interbay. The area, due west of 15th Avenue East and adjacent to West Dravus Street, will be rezoned to allow for residential units up to 85 feet and businesses at street level.  The upzone includes a provision that requires the developers of the project to provide a portion of the rental housing to people earning at 80% of the area median income or pay into a fund to create such affordable housing.

Here is the statement from Mayor Greg Nickels following the Council’s adoption of the legislation for development in the West Dravus commercial area:

“I feel strongly that this development must provide housing that’s affordable to our work force and I’m pleased that the council has agreed to make this a requirement.  Together, we’re taking steps to ensure that our hotel workers, grocery clerks, teachers and nurses have affordable housing options in Seattle.”

The city is expected to vote Monday on a plan that supporters say will revive the Interbay area.  The Interbay Neighborhood Association (INA) says the upzone plan will provide working-class housing for residents such as teachers and firefighters, but the dispute with the city centers on how much.

Pastor Ray Bartel, Quest Church, INA Board member shows his support at a recent rally for the neighborhood plan at City Hall.  The group believes that Mayor Greg Nickel’s office is pressuring the Seattle City Council to reject the plan that supporters say has widespread support. About thirty business people attended the rally.

“The Interbay community developed a comprehensive neighborhood plan that would provide the city what it says it wants – high-density, environmentally responsible workforce housing near mass transit,” said Bruce Wynn, INA executive director.

The INA says the current neighborhood proposed plan includes the creation of more than 1,000 working-class housing units for teachers, firefighters and downtown workers and will privately fund Dravus area traffic improvements.

“The Interbay neighborhood plan, which was completed and submitted to the city long before the introduction of any incentive zoning resolution, has been held hostage for three years and is now under assault by this last-minute proposal,” said Wynn.  “We ask the City Council to honor its past commitments and support the neighborhood plan as originally recommended.”

Development could start this year on the 39 homes slated for the site of the former Briarcliff School at the intersection of West Barrett Street and 39th Ave West near the water tower.  Bellevue based Lexington Fine Homes says they have submitted the development plans to the city for review.  Following approval Lexington plans to start construction on the streets and sidewalks along with underground improvements.

“I’m very hopeful that we will have those approvals this summer and will be able to start development this year,” said John Cochenour, Lexington Fine Homes.  “While there are a few more steps in the process, hopefully that would allow us to start home construction next year.”

Cochenour said that prices have not been determined yet and they won’t be available until they are closer to the start of home construction. Lexington primarily builds luxury homes on the Eastside.

The Briarcliff School was closed for a number of years before it was sold by the Seattle School District to Lexington in 2003.  Since then, construction has been delayed as neighborhood groups opposed the project saying it amounts to sticking a dense subdivision in the middle of an older neighborhood of single-family homes.  Critics contend that with so many houses on such small lots there will be traffic problems and congestion.

The Lexington Fine Homes website says they are working with the Hackworth Group Architecture/Planning to create homes that meet today’s homebuyer’s needs, while reflecting the style that is distinctly Magnolia. “Hopefully we’ll be good neighbors during this extended process,” said Cochenour.