Piper Village, which is located in the vicinity of 85th & Greenwood in Seattle, has been in the Brunt family since 1885. The various parcels that make-up the 13 acre site are managed by the Greenwood Shopping Center Board and more specifically their representative Gary Brunt. Gary began actively participating in the management, planning, and acquisition of the property in 1981. Piper Village first entered the Rafn project portfolio as a “site” with a variety of optional development paths more than a decade ago. It has been a very fun project to participate in as it has unfolded for the Brunt Family. The evolution of Piper Village is the family’s legacy designed to transform the old shopping center to meet the needs of a new generation. The work began by soliciting ideas from a number of local design firms as to what to do with the old Fred Meyer, the shopping center and various underutilized small retail shops. Michael Whalen was selected as architect for his innovative approach to protecting the “small shop” and organic growth of neighborhood retail and a pedestrian feel rather than giving way to exclusive big box retail.
While estimating and planning began in 2002, the construction didn’t begin for Rafn until January 2008 with the Sedges – a 3 story, 46 unit mixed-use project. That project included the beginnings of Morrow Lane, a new through street that is key to creating Whalen’s pedestrian access to small, local retail shops. Barry Leahy, the development consultant and owner’s representative through that early process is also still part of the project team. Barry has been instrumental in helping to plan the project phasing in such a way as to balance the best construction cost with a positive cash flow and a minimal disruption to existing retail tenants.
We will profile the second mixed-use piece known as Buildings 5 & 6, and the balance of Morrow Lane that connects through to Greenwood Avenue, in Part 2 of the series in our next newsletter.
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