Canal Station in Ballard (south building)
5440 Leary Ave NW

5440

Canal Station in Ballard is made up of 2 buildings but those buildings have separate Home Owner Associations, are managed by different property management companies but share common amenities. It is a unique set up. The buildings were completed in 2007/2008 just as the recession was hitting so originally saw several short sales and foreclosed units,  but have been rebounding nicely ever since and recent sales have been moving quickly for the most part.  This post features information about Canal Station South- 5440 Leary Ave NW.

The stats:

  • 169 units – studios, one and two bedrooms ranging in size from 517 to 1,343 square feet
  • Built in 2007
  • All units have at least 1 parking space, some have 2 spaces and some even have 3 spaces
  • Most units have storage lockers, but not all
  • 4 units have sold in the last 6 months ranging in price from $299,500 to $459,000; at the time of this post there are 3 units pending that are priced from $265,000 to $539,950 and there are 2 units active that are priced from $235,000 to $294,950
  • HOA dues include: garbage, landscaping maintenance, building maintenance, concierge, professional property manager, earthquake insurance
  • Amenities: Party room, gym, business center, outdoor spa, sauna, common terrace with BBQ, and concierge

The pros:

  • The location is central to the Ballard neighborhood amenities of NW Market and Ballard Ave as well as being close to Golden Gardens, and the Ballard Locks
  • The building has a nice amenities package to enjoy in addition to your condo space
  • The interior finishes are comfortable and traditional and have a warm feeling – those who are turned off by the ultra-modern design will likely enjoy Canal Station’s finishes
  • Most of the units have some sort of deck space
  • All units have parking

The cons:

  • It is a wood frame building so hard surface flooring is generally not allowed because you need board approval as well as the permission of the condo owner below you – good luck with that one J
  • The interiors, though nice, are pretty traditional and might be feel a bit too standard for some people looking for a more ultra-modern feel and design
  • HOA dues do not include water and sewer as they are metered separately – but this does help keep dues low

By Marco Kronen with Seattle Condo Review: A guide to Seattle downtown condos.