Wedgwood Center Dashboard

Welcome to the Wedgwood Community Council’s centralized dashboard where we intend to share information on the redevelopment of the Wedgwood Center – the single parcel extending from NE 85th Street (former QFC) to NE 82nd Street (Homestreet Bank). Below is a simple timeline of events followed by links to other posts and videos with more detailed information.

The WCC had been meeting with Wedgwood Center property owner prior to QFC’s announcement to close its store, and so had already established a constructive and honest relationship with the owner. We have appreciated the owner’s willingness to keep us aprised of their intentions for the property has it evolved. We further appreciate the relationship we have built with Security Properties, the prospective developer, who has been engaged with the community via the WCC much earlier than required as reflected in the timeline and past meetings listed below. We appreciate Security Properties’ wilingness to be genuinely engaged and work with the community to date to find a mutually agreeable plan for the Wedgwood Center property.  Security Properties has created the following project website to share information and where you can provide feedback/input.

If you would like to recieve updates on the Wedgwood Center Redevelopment project and reminders to our public meetings, we encourage you to sign up for our Newsletter.

Timeline

  • 1952 – Tradewell opens in Wedgwood at the current Rite Aid location, NE of 35th Ave NE and NE 85th St. (read Valarie’s excellent history on grocery in Wedgwood)
  • 1959 – Tradewell moves to a larger store at the SE corner of 35th Ave NE and NE 85th St.
  • 1989 – Matthews Red Apple replaces Tradewell, relocating from the site of the current Jasper Apartments.
  • 1999 – QFC replaces Matthews Red Apple
  • February 2021 – Kroger announces its intent to close the Wedgwood QFC as well as its Capitol Hill location in April 2021.
  • April 2021 – Wedgwood community says goodbye to the QFC employees.
  • June 2022 – Security Properties submits a pre-application to redevelop the Wedgwood Center property.
  • March 2023 – Security Properties creates a website (www.spwedgwood.com) and sends a letter to existing tenants (link).
  • April 2023 – Security Properties meets with the WCC for the first time to share their plans. They have met numerous times since. Videos of meetings linked below.
  • March 25, 2024 – The first Early Design Guidance (EDG-1) meeting occurred on March 25, 2024. Security Properties presented 3 “massing concepts” as shown in their plans (link).
    The Northeast Design Review Board preferred Concept C, Security Properties’ preferred site plan, which the WCC also preferred, although did not approve all of the 4 requested departures.  The Northeast Design Review Board also requested Security Properties perform additional studies around specific topics, particularly how vehicles enter/exit the site, and present them at a future design review board meeting which will be scheduled in the future.  Here is a summary prepared by the City of Seattle of the EDG-1 Meeting (link).  
  • April 1, 2024 – A jokester posted a sign on-site declaring that Trader Joes would soon be coming in April 1, 2025. Hahaha!
  • October 28, 2024 – The 2nd Early Design Guidance (EDG-2) meeting occurred where Security Properties presented their revised plans (link).  The outcome of this board meeting was not good news for Security Properties or the potential of returning grocery to Wedgwood at NE 85th Street, with one person from the Security Properties team commenting that “this kills grocery.” The design review board recommended that the city deny 3 of 5 departures requested by Security Properties which would have allowed a curbcut off 35th Ave NE, a small surface parking lot, and access into the site from both 35th Ave NE and NE 82nd Street.  In response to this outcome, Per Johnson, the president of the Wedgwood Community Council, wrote an opinion post on saving grocery in Wedgwood and calling for action.
  • January 2025 – Following up on the opinion post drafted in October 2024, the Wedgwood Community Council prepared an on-line petition to solicit signatures of those who are not opposed to a single curbcut off 35th Ave NE to allow for vehicular access into the site, to a small surface parking area (approximately 12 stalls) to provide ADA and short-term parking area. These features have been consistently noted as required for grocery to work on the site operationally and is a significant descrease from the 3 existing curbcuts and 120 surface parking stalls.
  • September 2025 – Security Properties presents an updated Wedgwood Center design to the Design Review Board for a final determination on whether the site plan can move forward. The updated design is unanimously approved by the Design Review Board, although members of the board require Security Properties to continue working with the City’s planner to refine elements of the design.
  • December 2025 – While Security Properties had been continuing to move design forward and work with the City to approve the plans, Security Properties withdraws from the Wedgwood Center project due to financial commitments to the property owner and uncertainties in their ability to get sufficient financing for the project in time.
  • June 2026 – After taking the Wedgwood Center property back out to market, the property owner has a new developer (Madison Development Group) – based on filings to the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection – which we understand intends to continue advancing the design led by Security Properties.

Past Meetings with Security Properties (with videos)

  • April 4, 2023 – Security Properties’ first presentation to the WCC board (video)
  • November 7, 2023 – Security Properties meets with the WCC board (video)
  • December 5, 2023 – Security Properties provides an update to the WCC board meeting (video)
  • Devember 13, 2023 – The WCC co-hosted a public meeting with Security Properties at Wedgwood Presbyterian Church. Unfortunately, it was the first time we tested hybrid meetings and we had challenges with streaming it and recording it (here’s video proof!).  More than 100 people attended the meeting, including Janet Gibson (owner of Van Gough Coffeehouse) and Kip Caputo (owner of the Wedgwood Alehouse). Security Properties presented the 3 site plans to the community, answered questions, and recieved feedback from the community.
  • February 2024 – Security Properties provides an update to the community at the WCC board meeting (video).
  • March 5, 2024 – Security Properties presented at the WCC board meeting and were joined by their transportation consultant to address questions (video).
  • October 8, 2024 – Security Properties presented revisions they are proposing to the Wedgwood Center redevelopment ahead of the EDG-2 meeting (video).
  • November 6, 2024 – Security Properties meets with the WCC to share their thoughts on the outcome of the EDG-2 meeting and the potential impact of the NE Design Review Board (video)
  • December 3, 2024 – Security Properties joins the WCC board to explain why access off 35th Ave NE is so critical for grocery (video).