By LEAH WEATHERSBY

QFC has announced several modifications to its proposed new grocery store sited for 3920 Stone Way Ave. N, formerly a Safeway.

The new store would be Quality Food Centers' second in the Wallingford district. The Bellevue-based supermarket chain currently operates a store on the site of the old Food Giant, on the corner of N. 45th and Wallingford Avenue N.

QFC made changes to its proposed Stone Way store in response to concerns from local residents, said Bill Low, the company's real estate manager.

Originally, QFC proposed a 35,000-square-foot stand-alone store on the Stone Way site, which would have entrances, both along Stone Way and N. 39th Street.

Neighbors complained that the new store would be too big, with poor access for parking customers and delivery drivers. Some suggested that the property would be better utilized with a mixed-use building that could include a grocery store, as opposed to a stand-alone store.

In response, Low said, QFC has agreed to modify its design for the Stone Way store by turning it into a five-story mixed-use building that would include underground and above ground parking, a QFC store, one or two shop spaces that would be made available for other retailers (and which could be accessed via North 40th Street), and two levels of housing on the top floors, which will likely contain as many as 20 condominium units.

In addition, the parking access point on Stone Way has been moved south of Bridge Way in an attempt to lessen traffic impacts, and more room has been allowed for delivery trucks.

At 30,000 sqare feet, the new QFC would be more than twice the size of the former Stone Way Safeway and roughly one-third larger than the current Wallingford QFC.

Low says he hopes to break ground on the project sometime this year. Construction is expected to take about five months.

For more information, call Bill Low at 425-462-2210.