By LEAH WEATHERSBY

Jo Rekhi beams with happiness when he talks about his new, nearly-completed six-story building on the corner of Lake City Way and NE 125th Street in the heart of Lake City. The project is expected to be finished by April of this year.

Rekhi, whose appearance better fits the image of a kindly uncle than a real estate developer, said that he was devastated when a fire in August 1998 destroyed the one-story building he owned that previously stood on that site. Nevertheless, he seems confident that something good has come out of that tragedy.

³When (the new building is) finished, Lake City will be proud of it.² Rekhi said.

The mixed-use building will feature both retail and office space, four floors of apartments, underground parking, a decorative front entrance with a giant clock and a fountain and last but not least: Tullyıs Coffee. For those looking for an abode closer to their morning caffeine fix, Rekhi says he expects the one- to two-bedroom units to rent for around $700 to $950 per month.

³The Rekhi building is the first building in Lake City that attempts to be urban, not suburban,² said Elaine Day LaTourelle, a professor of architecture at the University of Washington who also has an office in Lake City.

LaTourelle thinks the Rekhi building is well-suited to Lake Cityıs most prominent intersection and hopes that it will set the tone for future development in the neighborhood.

Jo Rekhi is already planning to build a second six-story building, similar to the nearly completed Rekhi building, that will be located next door, immediately to the north.

Rekhiıs second proposed building will replace a must smaller structure that currently houses Fredericks Styling Salon, Hillıs Barber Shop and the African store.

The second Rekhi building will feature retail on the ground floor with apartments on the top five floors.

Rekhi, a retired engineer with the City, believes the process of getting City approval for his second building will be easier this time because heıs learned so much about Seattleıs permit system. He hopes to break ground on the second building in either August or September.

Rekhi isnıt the only developer who has been busy in Lake City. Hereıs a look at some of the other projects that are either under construction or in the planning stages:

SIMPSON PROJECT:

Jo Rekhi may have two buildings in the works, but Simpson Housing, a Denver-based company, is about to do him one better. Simpson is planning construct three buildings on between NE 127th and NE 130th from Lake City Way and 33rd Avenue NE. The Simpson project will include a whopping 238 apartments distributed among three buildings. The complex will offer future residents a pool and recreation area, with studio apartments likely to start around $700.

³I donıt feel by any stretch of the imagination this is a low income project,² architect Chris Golden said.

The Simpson complex will also offer retail space and most likely another high-end coffee retailer.

The Simpson project replaces the now defunct Smith Trailer Park as well as some older houses and apartments that surrounded the trailer home complex.

Last May marked the ground-breaking for the Simpson projectıs first building, while the second building is scheduled to get underway during September or October of this year.

According to Project Manager Jeff Patton, the third building is further down the road. Simpson Housing also plans to build a new sidewalk along its property on 33rd Avenue NE.

APPIAN CONSTRUCTION:

Not to be left behind in the local development frenzy, Lake Cityıs own Appian Construction plans a new 16,500-square-foot building on land it currently owns on NE 123rd. Niger Jones, Appianıs president, says heıs been thinking about the project for years and working with the architect for about a year-and-a-half.

The ground floor of the new building will be retail space, with 55 one- and two bedroom apartments spread out over the top five floors. The building, which will be christened Villa Appia, will also feature underground parking, court yards and a roof terrace for the use of residents, and a what Jones describes as a French-style facade. Appian also plans to build Lake City a much needed sidewalk on NE 123rd and pave the alley adjacent to its property.

NORTHGATE PROPERTIES:

Ramesh Gangolli of Northgate Properties is considering a building project for the vacant, interior lot next to the Wells Fargo Bank on Lake City Way and NE 130th. Architect Steve Grant, who does work for Northgate Properties, says the developer is studying options at present and that the new building could be a hotel or an elder care facility.

SEATTLE HOUSING:

Seattle Housing Authority is planning a project that will add several new apartments designed to serve Lake Cityıs lower-income renters.

Rudy Brueggemann of the Seattle Housing Authority says the non-profit agency plans to renovate the old Lake City Village apartment building, which has been vacant and boarded up the past six years.

The existing two-story building, which was originally damaged by a flooding problem which the city has apparently now solved, will be torn down by the end of April if the Seattle Housing Authority has its way. Brueggemann says they hope to have a replacement building up by 2002. While he didnıt have too many details on the possible designs for the structure, he did say that there should be a minimum of 16 two-bedroom units. According to the Seattle Housing Authority web site, their units rent for an average of $226 per month placing them far below the cost of a new Rekhi or Simpson apartment.

CIVIC PROJECTS:

If thereıs any truth to that old saying ³if you build it, they will come,² then Lake City should brace itself for a renter stampede in the next couple of years. New civic amenities are also be in the works to serve both present and future Lake City residentsnts.

A block of civic amenities are planned on the site of the current library and community center at 28th Avenue NE and NE 125th. A new second story addition is planned for the Lake City Library. Funding has already been approved by voters in the 1998 Libraries For All Bond Issue for a 5987 square foot addition. The Neighborhood Service Center, formerly known as the Lake City Little City Hall, will share space with the library. It is currently located with the fire station at 30th Avenue NE and 127th. Parking for the various amenities will be situated underground under Albert Davis Park. The community center will be either renovated or rebuilt in phase two of the project in about 10 to 15 years once funding is approved. Plans for the project are still under discussion. The next meeting will be on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m.

Lake City civic leaders who spoke to the Jet City Maven expressed optimism about the various projects.

³Anything that (Rekhi and Simpson) are doing is a 100 percent improvement over what has been there,² said Imogene Inglet, president of the Lake City Chamber of Commerce.

Cheryl Klinker is chairperson of the North District Neighborhoods Stewardship Committee, a group of neighborhood activitsts involved in planning for the Lake City area. Klinker comments that while itıs sad that Lake City may be losing some of its ³small business character,² most of the members of her group feel that the new buildings proposed for Lake City are on the right track.

³Weıre getting more dense and that causes some concern, but at the same time weıre going to get something with it,² Klinker said.

Lake City Library update

Artist Linda Haworth has been selected to design artwork for the soon-to-be expanded Lake City Library, located at 12501 28th Ave. NE.

The Seattle Public Library plans to add nearly 6,000 square feet to the branch library, which currently measures 9,013 square feet.

In addition to expanding the size of the Lake City Library, the $2.9 million project will also pay for more books, more seats, a meeting room and upgraded technology, as well as public art.

The project is expected to be completed in 2002.

The Lake City Art Advisory Panel, made up of library staff, a community member and representatives of the libraryıs design team and Seattle Arts Commission, recommended Haworth, a Portland artist, for the job of helping to create new artwork for the library after interviewing several candidates.

Haworth has a degree in ceramics, but also works in metal, stone and glass.

She will be teamed with an artist from the Lake City community, who has not yet been selected. For more information, call 615-1878 or 615-1627.

Lake City farmerıs market proposed

After receiving lively encouragement from Mayor Paul Schell, the Lake City Farmerıs Market has begun the planning process for the project which may eventually be housed behind the Seattle Mennonite Church, located along NE 125th, just east of Lake City Way.

For those interested in planning the Lake City Farmerıs Market, a meeting will be held at the Seattle Mennonite Church at 3120 NE 125th St, on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

For more informaton about the farmerıs market, contact Aaron Barnett at 417-8040.