July 3, 2024

After long slog, boutique building underway in Kirkland

Rendering via Merrick Lentz Architect [enlarge]

Looking north up Market, the building will have two commercial bays.

Up the slope from Kirkland's old downtown center, a vacant triangle at 1001 Market St. sold two years ago for all of $1.7 million. It has low-rise zoning, so townhouses then seemed the likely outcome. Instead, a two-story, steel-framed commercial building recently topped out on the 8,120-square-foot triangle. Ground work began earlier this year. The site is just south of the Dibble Engineers building. One old house was removed in 2007.

Developer David Cantu, Avara Construction and Merrick Lentz Architect are planning two large residential units, presumably rentals, over about 3,203 square feet of commercial space, in two bays. The architect describes the latter as being for “two new fitness businesses.” No broker is attached.

Photo via Avara Construction Facebook page [enlarge]

This drone photo was a few months ago, before the steel framing was erected.

The same architect began planning the building in 2018, well before the last land sale. The program then was dental offices. Under four (!) different prior owners, beginning in 2002, the city considered and much later approved smaller building setbacks from the lot lines — thus allowing a larger structure. Along the way, there was also SEPA review and an appeal to the city's Hearing Examiner. Past plans were impacted by the Great Recession.

The current building team also includes Mane Electric, West Coast Plumbing, Evergreen Refrigeration, Platinum Dirt Works and Potelco. Avara's Instagram page says that the concrete decking should begin later this summer. Completion should come early next year.

Underground parking, with some half dozen stalls, will be accessed from the northwest side of the triangle, on Third Street West.