SEATTLE | Downtown Projects: Completed, U/C, Proposed/Approved

[NYC2ATX]

Originally Posted by Vashon118

The Post at Pier 52 2013-01-22 by planet_lb, on Flickr

OMG. OB. SESSED. with these lights.

[mhays]

Some think that Seattle will overbuild apartments in areas like Belltown and Ballard. But two areas so far seem insatiable: Capitol Hill and South Lake Union.

Capitol Hill is sucking up most of its remaining parking lots and half-used sites in quick order, and turning into Seattle's first large-scale "completed" neighborhood, more or less. It might be the black-hole effect...the density is sucking in more mass. From here, there are still a lot of one-story underused buildings and odder sites that can be redeveloped, like much of what's planned for 2013+.

The other is South Lake Union. That's massive job growth led by Amazon, plus others like the UW. Amazon workers alone might merit a thousand or more new apartments per year in the SLU, the Denny Triangle, and Belltown, i.e. a five or ten minute stroll to their offices.

[alki]

Originally Posted by StatenIslander237

OMG. OB. SESSED. with these lights.

Its an alley in Pioneer Square........a part of DT Seattle that is struggling a bit right now. I like what they are doing to alleys in that part of DT.

[mhays]

It's called Post Alley, but it's as much a street as an alley.

[alki]

True.

[subterranean]

When I visited a friend in Seattle last year, he told me that he seems to think that Pioneer Square is stunted by an incredibly strict historic district. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

[seaskyfan]

^ Here's a link to the historic district regs:

http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/pioneersquare.htm

I don't think the rules are that tough considering what historic districts back east regulate, but "stunted" would seem a reasonable label based on the lower height limits.

[mhays]

Somewhat. Some new buildings have been built that roughly match existing heights or are a little higher (up to 100' or so), and now one is underway on the edge that is taller (about 240', plus another at 100'). Another in the middle is planned at 160' or so.

The building in the picture is outside the Pioneer Square Preservation Board's district, and is outside what I'd call Pioneer Square.

[subterranean]

Thanks for the info. My buddy had some really interesting opinions, but I never know if he's telling a tall tale or telling the truth. One of his stories was that there's a large sign in Pioneer Square displaying the current jackpot of the state lottery. They wanted to change it to a digital sign so that it could be changed electronically without having to climb that thing everyday. Apparently the historic district denied them their digital sign and subsequently a man fell from the sign and died trying to change the numbers.

I've been considering moving to Seattle in the last year or so and I'm always drawn to Pioneer Square for the low rents. Being from Michigan, PS still seems incredibly vibrant and not the least bit shady. However, friend in Seattle also seems to think that when the "big one" comes, Pioneer Square is the only place that will level. Personally, I think it has the most character of anywhere in the place. Put in a grocery store and it would be heaven to me.

[mhays]

Pioneer Square is an interesting mix of extremes: rug shops, galleries, starving artists, a moderate amount of nicer condos, several homeless shelters, stadium crowds, bars, and lately a lot of tech companies. It's a liquefaction zone but most of the at-risk buildings have been seismically-upgraded to some extent.

The extremes will be moderated somewhat by the projects I described. The larger one, including current and future phases, will add 700 housing units (500 uc) a hotel, and an office building.

As for groceries, it's light, but there are some corner stores. A three block walk there's Uwajimaya, a city-block pan-Asian supermarket that also has some standard US stuff and can be your main walkable grocery.

[seapug]

Also PS is only two stops away from Kress IGA and city target on the light rail, which depending on where you live in PS might actually be easier. Of course it would be great for PS to have it's own grocer, but I think that'll come fairly soon.

[alki]

Originally Posted by subterranean

Thanks for the info. My buddy had some really interesting opinions, but I never know if he's telling a tall tale or telling the truth. One of his stories was that there's a large sign in Pioneer Square displaying the current jackpot of the state lottery. They wanted to change it to a digital sign so that it could be changed electronically without having to climb that thing everyday. Apparently the historic district denied them their digital sign and subsequently a man fell from the sign and died trying to change the numbers.

I've been considering moving to Seattle in the last year or so and I'm always drawn to Pioneer Square for the low rents. Being from Michigan, PS still seems incredibly vibrant and not the least bit shady. However, friend in Seattle also seems to think that when the "big one" comes, Pioneer Square is the only place that will level. Personally, I think it has the most character of anywhere in the place. Put in a grocery store and it would be heaven to me.

Neighborhoods are never static; they go up and down. PS is in a down period right now but I think its temporary and it will come back. Its becoming a draw for tech firms and eventually there will be a critical mass that will bring in new retail.

[alki]

Retailer Zara to open at Westlake Center

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020352906_westlakezaraxml.html

[alki]

Originally Posted by alki

Retailer Zara to open at Westlake Center

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020352906_westlakezaraxml.html

Accidentally posted the above before adding......not a new bldg but still an important addition to DT Seattle.

Also announced today.......a hotel for the newest skyscraper going up downtown:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-13...r-in-two-decades-to-house-sls-hotel.html

[mhays]

Along with TJ Maxx underway in part of the Kress Building, taking about 20,000 sf I think, that's two sizeable additions at once.

[alki]

Originally Posted by mhays

Along with TJ Maxx underway in part of the Kress Building, taking about 20,000 sf I think, that's two sizeable additions at once.

Thanks for the update. I didn't know about TJ Maxx.

[subterranean]

My next question was going to be if the building would block Columbia Center from the sound, but after doing Google street view, I answered my own question:


Seattle Hotel by With Any Luck, on Flickr

[alki]

Excavation for first Amazon tower to begin in June

The first phase of Amazon.com’s three-block Denny Triangle high-rise office complex should be finished in three years, the development manager says.

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020361319_amazonhighrisesxml.html

[seaskyfan]

Looks like some movement on the Greyhound site. Two 500' towers, 1200 hotel rooms, 600 apartments, and 350,000 sf of office space. Headed to the Design Review Board in March.

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020369571_hedreengreyhoundxml.html

[alki]

Originally Posted by seaskyfan

Looks like some movement on the Greyhound site. Two 500' towers, 1200 hotel rooms, 600 apartments, and 350,000 sf of office space. Headed to the Design Review Board in March.

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020369571_hedreengreyhoundxml.html

Saw that......curious about the design. Does anyone know Hedreen's work, the local developer? Does he design projects in house or hire outside architects?

If built out, its going to be a sigificant complex.