I’ve been learning about a new Belltown project summarized below. I also interviewed the developer as well as agreed to post an SCR survey to give my readers the opportunity to help design the project and to help make sure they build something that people want. Feel free to fill out the 10 question survey, it’ll take you a couple of minutes and I’ll post results in a couple of weeks so we can all see what people thought.
Western and Blanchard, a mixed-use project will be located on the parking lot west of Continental Place Condos. (across the street from Belltown Billards). This project would be a 6 story wood framed building with approximately 116 units, 80 of them will be around 600 square feet. The top 2 levels will feature views of the water while other units may have either Space Needle or City views. Most of the units will be priced under $400,000. Interiors will feature 10′ clear ceilings. Amenities would include (2) media rooms, fitness center, business center, roof top deck and perhaps part-time concierge.
Sample floor plan for their small "price point" units
Projects done by the same developer, Murray Franklyn :Bellora, Pomeroy, Austin Bell, Cristalla and Madison Tower. Click below to read my interview with the developer and for a link to the survey.
(1) Sounds like you’re launching a new project into what appears to be a soft market. Do you know something that the bears don’t know?
The market is dynamic and has up’s and downs. We have seen 3 different cycles in Seattle and have built through them. Our product won’t hit the market until 2010-2011.
(2) With so many new condo projects in Seattle, how will this one stand out from the pack?
We have designed our product to hit the market below the “towers” in town. We are going to have lots of product in the $300,000’s and $400,000’s. We are staying away from the high end of the market. Our product is unique in that we have an excellent location, great amenity package, great specs and affordable units. We are a block north of Pike Place and just off of 1st Ave. With the 2nd lobby we have designed into the building, you are literally steps away from the action in Belltown.
(3) Are you considering making them apartments? How do you address buyers’ concerns that you might convert them to apartments before the project is complete?
This is being designed as a condo. We expect to keep it that way. The wave of apartments are coming.
(4) I heard there will be 10′ ceilings, what do you mean by that?
We are taking advantage of the 85’ height limit. We have added height to each floor. The floor to floor will be right at 10’. That is different from most other projects in town.
(5) What kind of buyers are you targeting for this project?
Our buyers will be a mixture of buyers across a wide demographic. Most will be younger, urban, professional buyers. Our buyers will be first time buyers and move up buyers. Our buyers want to be in the “action” of the city, but don’t want to spend a million dollars on a condo. Our buyers will also be folks wanting a second home in the city, but again don’t need the high rise, high price experience. You will be able to buy a condo, in the city in the low $300’s. If you were in the market for a 2nd home anywhere within 3 hours of Seattle, you’d spend more than that. Our upper 2 floors will have great views of the Puget sound. We will have other unit stacks that have great “in city” views, space needle, and our views to the north are really nice. We have a courtyard that is very private and unique. There are no units that look into one another on the courtyard, which will be a nice feature.
If you are interested in participating a survey, please fill it out here and help shape Belltown’s newest project.
I’m not very impressed by this project. I would NEVER purchase a condo in a wood framed building and the picture looks like every other boring condo building downtown. I think that the developer should take cues from buildings like the Mosler Lofts and try to be a little more innovative in thier design…
Lots of condo’s in wood framed buildings are really nice and extremely well built. The cost is the big issue. If you can afford to buy concrete and steel you should be willing to pay 750/sf for a highrise unit nearby and leave the cheap stuff to those of us who can determine if the project is worth purchasing based on the details.
Great location!
Will this be a LEED builidng? What energy performance targets below code will this hit or will there be any special carbon reduction strategies? Type of heating system? Air condiitoning? Any special indoor air quality precautions and will the acoustic seperation be more than code minimum? Plugs in the garage for electic cars? What larger units will be offered?
It would be great to ditch the TV rooms, and give the occupants a green roof amentiy space, must be an amazing view!
Once again, great location! Good luck!
I’m sure the viaduct noise will contribute nicely to the ambiance 🙂
No, it’s good to see the surface parking lots converted into apartments and/or condos, and I think a more “reasonably priced” condo has a chance of selling when you consider the coming glut of luxury high-rises.
That said, I’d be concerned about interior noise in a wood-framed building, so hopefully they’ll use really good single-core or double-core construction techniques. I also hope they don’t use any kind of exterior materials that weather poorly. That seems to be the Achilles heel of 5-6 story condo buildings.
I would add – Don’t overspend on the amenities. There is a really nice gym (Seattle Athletic Club) nearby, and lots of restaurants. Would rather not have higher condo dues to support amenities that almost no one uses.
The media rooms sound ok – but I’d rather have a larger party room.
I totally agree with the comment about wood-framed condo buildings. I wouldn’t purchase a unit in one of those either. I’ve lived in a concrete building and I’m never going back.
Besides, the city is already crawling with new wood-framed condos like Brix, Trio and Expo 62 (which I guess is now going apt) and others, I’m sure. The market is already saturated with them, and I find it hard to believe that developers are going to recoup their investment by going that route.
These days, people are far less sensitive to their neighbors and despite the propaganda of the sales people, condo associations are completely toothless when it comes to enforcing basic rules about noise, pets, etc. In fact, it’s not uncommon for some of the board members to be problem residents!
People should think twice or at least plan very carefully before they consider buying in a wood-frame building. They will also be the first to deteriorate in appearance and value over time. I wish the developer would just re-consider and go concrete!
Everyone would want to buy in a concrete building, not everyone can afford it. Developers build product that meets the market. It costs $70-$100 per sf more to build concrete. Thats $85,000 more to a 850 sf 1 bedroom. Makes a huge difference in affordibility of a condo. Sure its better, but it also prices a whole segment of the market out of the building. Wood frame can be built to a Luxury acoustic rating, many developers choose not to because of cost.
everyone wants concrete at woodframe prices – when are people going to understand that it doesn’t work that way?
Is there already an architect in mind? If not they should use PB elemental for there architecture. These guys have been building some really cool stuff that I’ve been through. I wish someone would use them for something in Belltown. There website is http://www.elementalarchitecture.com . It seems like a lot of there projects have been reasonbly priced and well designed.
It’s great to see a residential building going in on that parking lot. And the wood frame is fine — the developer is trying to make these a little more affordable. People complain that every condo built downtown is at 400K but then when a developer builds wood frame to keep costs down people complain about that too?
It’s great to see a residential building going in on that parking lot. And the wood frame is fine — the developer is trying to make these a little more affordable. People complain that every condo built downtown is at 400K but then when a developer builds wood frame to keep costs down people complain about that too?
I’m surprised at all of the negative reaction to my comments about wood-framed buildings.
I still think they make for a less-desirable living situation than concrete buildings. I realize that some builders want to make “more affordable” condos available at a lower price point, but there are already too many units in wood-framed buildings available. Concrete is beautiful when done properly, and prime locations like this one in Belltown would be perfect for an all-concrete low-rise building.
Save the wood-framed cheapies for the suburbs or more residential areas.