Austin Bell is a historic landmark located on one of the most vibrant blocks (2324 1s Ave) in Belltown. The building was constructed as a hotel in 1889 and was designed by noted architect, Elmer Fisher. It was named after William Bell's son, Austin. The hotel was almost destroyed by a fire in 1981 but the strong brick facade managed to survive. It was carefully restored from 1997-1999 by Murray Franklyn and Snell Partnership and turned into a condominium complex with a Starbucks on the street level.
Floor plan & square footage
23 Studio- 333-696 square feet
16 One bedroom- 501-906 square feet
5 Two bedroom- 1,185-1,395 square feet
1 Three bedroom- 2,000 square feet
The lobby features wood columns with brick walls and pictures of the Austin Bell hotel in the early days. Out of the 45 units in the building, 12 of them are lofts boasting close to 20 foot ceilings. The majority of these homes are on the 2nd floor.
Comparing Austin Bell and Pomeroy, they actually share some similarities. Both buildings use fob key entry for their lobby entrances as well as elevator, making it feel a little bit more secure than some other condos in Belltown. Both have limited amenities. In Pomeroy's case, it only has a huge common rooftop deck, probably one of the nicest in Belltown. As for Austin Bell, the rooftop deck is a little smaller but it has a central courtyard on the 2nd floor. Pomeroy has higher quality finishes and central air-conditioning but it does not have any lofts. Austin Bell has higher number of petite studios. They are small but well laid out and it's ideal for a first time home buyer or someone looking for an in city pied-a-terre.
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So why has most of the 5th floor recently gone on sale? The lofts look great (the studios and 1 bedrooms, not so much). I was wondering if like Site 17 there is some reassessment charge that is coming up.
No assessments; just people losing their jobs and selling to move to new locations.