By Tyler Steele, PhinneyWood Intern
One of the most visible intersections in the neighborhood has prime real estate up for lease on the corner of 85th and Greenwood — first the Greenwood Academy of Hair in June and now PAWS Cat City in December.
“I wonder what’ll end up here in the future,” pondered longtime resident Rachel Hutchinson as she peered through the window into the empty salon, still littered with leftover equipment from the move. “I will really miss them.”
On her daily trek, Hutchinson said this corner always reminded her that she was almost home.
Six months ago, PhinneyWood reported that the Greenwood Academy of Hair was moving to Shoreline and merging with a national chain, Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy.
“It’s a good, high profile location,” Limantzakis Properties owner Johnny Limantzakis said by phone. “Greenwood is a great, up-and-coming neighborhood. The properties are listed for lease and we’re looking for tenants.”
“The two largest vacancies are best suited for retail use,” he added. “With the right modifications, like a hood for cooking, a restaurant could work too.”
He said the corner lot is about 4,000 square feet, and right next door is around 1,000.
PAWS Cat City, another longtime fixture, announced last month that they would be moving to the University District at 5200 Roosevelt Way NE by the middle of on Dec. 26.
“It’s bitter sweet because we love Greenwood, but we’re excited to expand and increase our operations,” Supervisor Steph Renaud said as she held a brown and black tabby named Giselle. “We wanted to find a place in the neighborhood, but we just couldn’t find a place that worked.”
Still holding Giselle, who burrowed her face in fear of the camera flash, Renaud said, “We’re growing — so, we just needed more space.”
She pointed out the new location’s 500 additional square feet, which will help meet the expanding demand for the organization’s services.
“The kitten season has grown longer, and we also have more adult cats,” she said on her way from the lobby to the cat rooms. “By expanding and increasing partnerships with other locations, our goal is to help rescue more animals.”
After putting Giselle into her room, Renaud picked up Scooby, a friendly gray tabby who did not mind getting his picture taken.
“I live in the neighborhood, so I’ll miss this location,” she said with a sigh.
A third tenant of the building, the Northwest Neighborhood Service Center, is closing on Jan. 1, a victim of the city’s budget cuts. (The NSC had been considered for closure in the preliminary budget. The service center’s Coordinator Beth Pflug just confirmed to PhinneyWood today that the office is closing.)
“It’s very likely to see something happen to these locations in the next few months,” Limantzakis said. “We’re very active and we’re looking for a good fit for the neighborhood.”
