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The site of a former Azteca Mexican Restaurant is being transformed into two mixed-use buildings and adding to a popular inter-urban path.

The ground is torn up in preparation for the four-story buildings that will be located at 1823 Eastlake Ave. East and 1903 Yale Place East.

What are they building?

It’s a project that received some fanfare from residents. The project calls for a public path between the buildings that will add to a pedestrian route that currently connects Eastlake to Capitol Hill via the Howe Street Steps.

“Notwithstanding the overall improvements to pedestrian infrastructure this project promises, the addition of a full connected pedestrian pathway from the top of Capitol Hill, through Colonnade Park, and to the waterfront, would be a welcome addition to this part of Eastlake,” Michael Maddux wrote to the City of Seattle in support of the project during the public comment period.

Digging and drilling has already begun at the site. The former Azteca was demolished in April. Soldier piles were installed May 18-19, according to an engineering report.

When finished, there will be two retail and five live/work spaces in a total of 3,139 square feet of retail space. A total of 96 apartment units are planned for the development. Underground parking for an estimated 43 residents will be available.

The two buildings will be split by the pedestrian path, which runs on the axis of East Howe Street. The design falls in line with the Eastlake Neighborhood Plan, Brian Ramey of the Lake Union Neighborhood wrote to the city.

The project will create a more welcoming environment, Maddux said. What was a large parking lot and closed business will become a beautiful place to shop.

“Almost more important to me, however, is seeing the fruit of the labor of the community working with developers and the city, instead of lobbing bombs and cementing on opposite sides of the issue,” he wrote.