SEATTLE | Downtown Projects: Completed, U/C, Proposed/Approved - Page 116

cactus22minus1 · #**2301** Posted **Aug 4, 2010, 3:32 AM**

High-rise apartment building planned near Colman Dock
By Eric Pryne
Seattle Times business reporter

http://community.seattletimes.nwsour...ite&st_ver=1.2

Quote:

Goodman Real Estate has submitted preliminary plans for a 15-story apartment building in downtown Seattle less than two blocks from Washington State Ferries' Colman Dock.

It's one of the first new development proposals to surface in the downtown core since the real-estate market collapsed two years ago. For Goodman, it represents a change from earlier plans to build a 12-story office building on the site, now a parking lot bounded by Western and Post avenues and Columbia and Marion streets.

The newly proposed apartment building, the Colman Tower, would have about 200 units on the sixth through 15th floors aimed at "young urban professionals," according to plans filed with the city's Department of Planning and Development. Parking and street-level retail would occupy the lower levels.

Goodman representatives did not return calls seeking more information. The city's Downtown Design Review Board is to consider the project Aug. 24.

Goodman's switch from office to apartments makes sense, said land-use economist Matthew Gardner.

While downtown office vacancies remain high, the high-end urban apartment market appears to be stabilizing, Gardner said, and it's much easier to get financing for apartment projects than other construction.

What's more, he added, Colman Tower probably won't be ready for tenants until at least late 2012 or early 2013, when the market may be healthier. "Goodman's timing is good," Gardner said.

Several new, large apartment projects have broken ground in Seattle in recent months despite the recession. Among them: Harbor Properties' Link Apartments in West Seattle, and Avalon Bay Communities' Avalon Queen Anne project in Lower Queen Anne.

At least one other downtown development proposal, Urban Visions' 35-story tower at Second Avenue and Pike Street, has been redesigned as an apartment project, in part to increase the likelihood of obtaining financing. Urban Visions' original plan was for a luxury hotel and condos.

The Alaskan Way Viaduct separates Goodman's Colman Tower property from the waterfront. If that aging roadway is demolished, Goodman could be sitting on a gold mine, Gardner said:

"Will (demolition of the Viaduct) increase property values exponentially? Absolutely."

The city's conceptional plans call for a waterfront boulevard and new public spaces once the viaduct is torn down. But, according to the state Department of Transportation's most recent plan, demolition won't occur until at least 2016, after a tunnel is built to replace the elevated highway. And the tunnel, which still faces political obstacles, is no sure thing.

Seattle-based Goodman Real Estate was founded by John Goodman in 1990. Its assets include more than 34,000 apartments and 2.5 million square feet of office and retail space, according to the firm's website.

cactus22minus1 · #**2302** Posted **Aug 4, 2010, 4:09 AM**

You'll see reference of another proposal in that article.. I haven't seen this one mentioned in this thread but do correct me if I'm wrong:

Quote:

At least one other downtown development proposal, Urban Visions' 35-story tower at Second Avenue and Pike Street, has been redesigned as an apartment project, in part to increase the likelihood of obtaining financing.

So I did a little digging. From Urban Visions blog:

Quote:

The project, a proposed 440 foot apartment tower housing 340 units plus skybar and restaurant, is being designed by Tom Kundig and Jerry Garcia of Olsen Kundig Architects under the guidance of owner Urban Visions and Greg Smith.

Quote:

The 2nd & Pike Tower will provide the missing link in the pedestrian intensive Pike/Pine corridor. The project will restore this once significant corner to its place as an iconic landmark and extension of the region's ambition. It will respond to its unique location and history with a multi-faceted building which is both transparent and dynamic.

The southeast corner of 2nd Avenue and Pike Street was the home to the MacDougall Southwick Department Store from the turn of the 20th Century until 1964. Once the center of the Seattle Retail Core and across the street from the Bon Marche, the area began to experience a downturn once the core began to move East. The area eventually became neglected and urban renewal resulted in the destruction of many of the adjacent historic buildings. The 2nd and Pike intersection has since been relegated to serving the retail core by providing surface and garage parking. The goal of this project is to inject the site with a vitality and humanity it has not seen for decades.

Urban Visions has established itself as a leading force in large sustainable designed projects. The 2nd & Pike Tower will be the culmination of this commitment. The building will achieve LEED Gold certification, gathering sun and wind from the site.

A large street level restaurant and upper level Skybar with roof decks will further insure the building's engagement with its neighborhood and contribute to the richness of the Pike/Pine Corridor.

The latest update says the proposal has been altered for apartments only- no hotel.

Seattle Urban Visions

InlandEmpire · #**2303** Posted **Aug 4, 2010, 7:38 PM**

Great find! I think those renderings have surfaced before at some time - either way, seeing that lot developed would be awesome. Too bad they couldn't go a bit taller than 440' there since its such a prominent spot in the skyline...

My boss is in 'the know' in the local construction / development industry, and it sounds like 1200 Stewart is definitely no pipe dream of a plan - may come to be sooner than one might think

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(Image from the Seattle DJC, courtesy of Lexas Companies)

This project should make an awesome gateway in and out of Cap Hill

cactus22minus1 · #**2304** Posted **Aug 4, 2010, 9:07 PM**

From what I read about the 440ft 2nd and Pike tower, they already got zoning approval to boost the height limit from the previous 100something to the current 440 just for this tower. So we should consider ourselves fortunate.

I love to hear positive news for 1200 Stewart.. that will really help to continue to blend development from downtown through the triangle and on to SLU. And as a fellow Capitol Hill resident, I'm excited to see that block tidied up and offer retail/food options for the walking commute towards downtown/belltown from the hill.

mhays · #**2305** Posted **Aug 25, 2010, 9:53 PM**

The Second & Pike project was probably the trigger for the whole Downtown height limit increase process a few years ago. If I recall, it was a 300' zone before, and is 400' now (plus 10% for mechanical/architectural).

InlandEmpire · #**2306** Posted **Nov 18, 2010, 2:41 PM**

In today's DJC - sounds like things may be starting up downtown again

November 18, 2010
Real Estate Buzz: Matt Griffin eager to start apartment towers
By MARC STILES
Real Estate Editor

Add Pine Street Group to the list of developers talking about starting a big Seattle apartment project.

Matt Griffin, managing partner of Seattle-based Pine Street Group, said yesterday he’s in serious discussions with partners about whether it’s time to start the two-tower, 650-unit project on the west side of Sixth Avenue between Lenora and Blanchard streets. “My take is now is the right time, but we need to get everybody to agree.”

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InlandEmpire · #**2307** Posted **Nov 19, 2010, 5:09 PM**

New 17 floor apartment building breaks ground today

Harbor starts today on Alto apartments
The decision to start shows how quickly the Seattle apartment market has rebounded.

By MARC STILES
Journal Staff Reporter

Rendering courtesy of Harbor Properties [enlarge]
Harbor Properties will build the 17-story apartment tower at 311 Cedar St. in Belltown. Officials at Harbor Properties say they will start construction today on Alto, a 184-unit apartment tower at 311 Cedar St., in Seattle's Belltown neighborhood

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seaskyfan · #**2308** Posted **Nov 20, 2010, 6:57 AM**

Nice to see some new activity!

mhays · #**2309** Posted **Nov 20, 2010, 8:31 PM**

Yes, this means no break in Seattle highrise construction, counting Amazon.

mSeattle · #**2310** Posted **Nov 25, 2010, 8:44 AM**

Amazon is more mid-rise to me. Is the tallest building even 10 floors?

mhays · #**2311** Posted **Nov 29, 2010, 5:45 AM**

It's 12 floors and 160'.

mSeattle · #**2312** Posted **Nov 30, 2010, 7:16 AM**

OK, well it's a nice size. I'm reluctant to call it a highrise (15+ is my preference).

Complex01 · #**2313** Posted **Dec 1, 2010, 2:12 PM**

Oh Nice to see some new stuff starting...

InlandEmpire · #**2314** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 12:49 AM**

According to one of the posters at skyscrapercity the 40 story apartment bulding proposed to go right next to the Paramount theater on Pine may start construction soon.....almost 500' tall. Good news if true!

mSeattle · #**2315** Posted **Dec 2, 2010, 7:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by InlandEmpire

According to one of the posters at skyscrapercity the 40 story apartment bulding proposed to go right next to the Paramount theater on Pine may start construction soon.....almost 500' tall. Good news if true!

Is this right next to the freeway above the train tunnel?

Also, somebody please tell me that they're going to improve the design of the 2nd & Pike proposal. It's currently yuk.

InlandEmpire · #**2316** Posted **Dec 21, 2010, 2:30 PM**

Yeah, it would be right between the freeway and the Paramount Theater.

In other news.....

Belltown tower gets land-use approval
By JOURNAL STAFF

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Image by Weber Thompson [enlarge]

The city of Seattle has given its final land-use approval for a 40-story residential tower at 2116 Fourth Ave. in Belltown.

mSeattle · #**2317** Posted **Dec 21, 2010, 9:39 PM**

Nice. A step in the right direction. This has a styling similar to the two residential towers proposed around the convention center.

mhays · #**2318** Posted **Feb 2, 2011, 8:26 PM**

Seattle has started a 12-story office building for Amazon and a 17-story apartment building (shown above) on the edges of Downtown in the past couple months.

Also, at least six lowrise apartment projects have started recently on the fringes of Downtown or nearby (about 750 units including the HR). Apartment developers are getting into frenzy mode on the six-story (1+5 woodframe) apartments in particular, and intend to start numerous others this winter and spring.

Highlights of other projects underway include the dual deep bore light rail tunnel from Downtown to Capitol Hill and the UW (boring now, exciting forever), a small spec office building (go figure), conversion of a southerly section of highway 99 from elevated to surface (enabling the upcoming 9,000 foot bypass tunnel through the CBD, which starts this year and will get rid of the rest of the viaduct), a new building at Virigina Mason Medical Center, a redo of the Mercer/Valley Streets into a more pedestrian/bike friendly corridor in the growing South Lake Union area, conversion of a former Navy building into the relocated Museum of History and Industry, a $20m partial restoration of King Street Station (Amtrak and commuter rail), a new dorm building at Seattle U, and a giant new campus for the Gates Foundation. Tenant improvement volume is heavy as companies and non-profits relocate closer in and as existing tenants expand (looking like we might suck up the huge oversupply more quickly than we thought).

Haven't had an update in a while. Thought I'd fill people in.

InlandEmpire · #**2319** Posted **Mar 12, 2011, 4:24 AM**

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Stadium Place will have three towers of housing, 19,000 square feet of retail and 360 parking stalls on the west side of the site.

Construction will start in late summer on a four-story podium and two apartment towers on Qwest Field's north parking lot in Seattle, the first stage in 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-use development that has been years in the making.

http://www.djc.com/news/re/12026952.html

InlandEmpire · #**2320** Posted **Mar 12, 2011, 4:26 AM**

Nice to see the tower crane for Alto up!