New Development Heads East With Construction of Edmonds Way Apartments

A common refrain from city officials looking for tax dollars is that there’s no place in Edmonds to build. Unless you go up, and that’s a conversation that can get heated on both sides.

Open land is scarce downtown, sure, so where do you build? The answer is Edmonds Way (SR 104) away from the Bowl, which in the recent past has seen Paglicacci Pizza—which just added a can’t-miss-it sign out front for ferry travelers—and , both on the west side of 100th Avenue West.

Soon, the east side of Edmonds Way past 100th Avenue will have its turn, with a bank and two apartment complexes.

The first of those projects, the , when completed will have the distinction of being the largest mixed-use development ever seen in Edmonds. It’s located on the northwest corner of Edmonds Way and 232nd St. SW.

At a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Mayor Mike Cooper hailed the project as good news for Edmonds. “To see something of this size signals that things are getting better in Edmonds and in the bigger picture. It also signifies we will be a leader in the journey back from our regional and national recessions.”

The Edmonds Way Apartments will have 89 one- and two-bedroom apartments, underground parking and more than 3,000 square feet of ground-level commercial space. Two buildings with three and four levels will be constructed on the 1.8-acre site. The storm water run-off from the project will be managed entirely by low impact development through installation of a rain garden and infiltration system.

The development plans to have a variety of landscaping along the curb and surrounding the buildings. To make way for construction, expected to begin next week, more than 15 large evergreen trees will be removed.

The apartments are being developed by Seattle-based Goodman Real Estate. Goodman Real Estate is the same company behind the upscale Point Edwards condos overlooking the waterfront.

“This is a very significant project for the City of Edmonds,” said Cooper. “We are thrilled Goodman Real Estate has decided to make such a significant investment in our community. It identifies Edmonds as a great place to put major projects like this together.”

The architectural design is by Studio Meng Strazzara. “This project is one of the highlights of our year,” said the company’s Chris Davidson, who was present at the groundbreaking.

Cooper added that the mixed-use project is being built in compliance with Edmonds’ new storm water management code. “The developers have been enthusiastic in embracing these new rules,” he said, “which are designed to protect Puget Sound water quality.”

Edmonds Public Works director Phil Williams said the project will have only a “small impact” on traffic. Part of that, he said, is because there will be commercial instead of retail tenants.