[needsalife]

Here are the new renderings of the Bravern Residences from www.bravernresidences.com

http://home.comcast.net/~rpgfankirk/goodbravern.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~rpgfankirk/goodbravern2.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~rpgfankirk/goodbravern3.jpg

They are still 30 stories each and prices range from $500k-$5 million :eek:

[PDXPaul]

Wow, I'm impressed. It looks fresh for this area.

[MrVandelay]

I really like these. They are different for bellevue.

[velciane]

The building on the right from the render somewhat reminds me of a shorter wamu building in terms of the shape of the curves on the sides. This is awesome to have that many towers, and they are grouped to let air in, and to not block to much views either.

[northface]

OMG!! BEAUTUFIL!!!!! that looks soo good! when does that start construction? Height? floors?! AMAZING!!!

[InlandEmpire]

Wow! Those are some of the best looking towers I've seen in awhile. Nice.

[mhays]

Very nice looking.

In most ways it's not good to have large city blocks. But Bellevue is really cashing in on theirs in a good way, with all the multi-tower developments.

[horatio_the_hermit]

great towers, great podium. Im loving the VERY upscale retail complex with the european plaza motif.
Im sort of getting sick of all these twins though. The skyline will look really awkward with two of each tower.

[James Bond Agent 007]

I wonder if people living in these will be able to hear the "Walk sign is on for all crossings" message at the transit center? :D

[mhays]

Gaaaahhh! I only use that transit center a couple times a year, but that recording drives me crazy! How astonishingly stupid are people? Must we make the whole world uninhabitable just to be PC?

[Skian]

They are still saying 30 stories? I count high 30's from the drawings.

[northface]

yeah i got mid-to low 30's in my count.

[bgwah]

I like them! Still, they'd look better if they were a little taller, into the 40s at least. :(

[James Bond Agent 007]

Also, did anyone notice? They *almost* have spires!

Sort-of . . .

[destroybananas]

Very beutiful. How exciting!

[Seattle FTW]

Gaaaahhh! I only use that transit center a couple times a year, but that recording drives me crazy! How astonishingly stupid are people? Must we make the whole world uninhabitable just to be PC?

Yea, those darn blind people. They're so stupid.

[mhays]

Even activists for the blind are sometimes against audible signals. When I was on the Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board, another board member, a blind lawyer, described this. I think it boiled down to these signals giving a false sense of security.

In any case, the audible signal at the BTC is way, way too loud. I'm sure it's annoying even inside the nearby offices. At night, for anyone trying to sleep, it would be murder.

By saying "people are stupid", I was referring to planners and elected officials.

[sequoias]

That's why I'm glad that I'm deaf so I won't be hearing those annoying noises. ;)

[Mr.Boisean]

Wow, these look much better.

Somebody asked when construction will begin I think.... it already has.

[horatio_the_hermit]

i drove by 20 mins ago.
As mentioned above, its fenced off and there are moving trucks emptying the building/

[northface]

theres a building on the lot where the second phase is? if so, this is great! it should all be underconstruction all at the same time pretty much! great!

[horatio_the_hermit]

two story building

[SeattleHusky82]

These towers are gorgeous (especially the South tower)! Very different from all the other stuff that is going up in Bellevue and Seattle. They kind of remind me of some of the towers I've seen in San Diego.

[destroybananas]

^I was thinking the same thing. It'll be a nice addition to the variety of towers Bellevue is cultivating.

[destroybananas]

^I was thinking the same thing. It'll be a nice addition to the variety of towers Bellevue is cultivating.

[MrVandelay]

i drove by 20 mins ago.
As mentioned above, its fenced off and there are moving trucks emptying the building/

Progress Update on site prep

http://www.mytravellinks.com/Skyscrapercity/Post6/DSC04246a.jpg

http://www.mytravellinks.com/Skyscrapercity/Post6/DSC04248a.jpg

[urbanlife]

I like that little concrete building, shame it has to go, but then again I am not sure where it sits on the site. At least the Bravern project looks pretty good.

[Skian]

It sits at the corner of 110th ave NE and NE 6th. Right next to the convention center's theater entrance & and kitty corner from the new City Center II tower.

[urbanlife]

okay, thanks Skian. From the bird's eye view, I can see why it has to come down, too much wasted space with it.

Actually with this project and the city center project, that part of Bellevue should become pretty dense. Now all they need to do is redevelop much of the block to the west of the Bravern, and then there would be some major density going on.


Personally though I still wish Bellevue would of cut most of their super blocks into 4 blocks each when they had the chance. It probably would of fixed this whole is downtown Bellevue really a downtown question.

[mhays]

They've added some new streets, some even since I worked there in the mid-1990s. But yes, there are too many five-lane and six-lane monsters, and there are still some megablocks.

Thankfully even the megablocks often have good pedestrian routes through them.

[destroybananas]

^I'll take them over any street in Seattle though. It's a lot easier to get around in Bellevue than it is n Seattle.

[SeaChi]

If the registration for the Bravern is at bravernresidences.com, then what is the registration at vipbellevue.com for?

[destroybananas]

^they're both different projects. Each with their own registration sites. VIPBellevue I believe will be on the current Safeway site. Anyone please correct me if i'm wrong.

[SeaChi]

i'm starting to think it could be safeway site also, but it sure sounds like the bravern. vip says 30 stories, the bravern will be twin 30 story towers. vip says it will anchored by an upscale department store, array of "prestigious" brands and a boutique hotel. exactly what the bravern will be.

[zilfondel]

I like that little concrete building, shame it has to go, but then again I am not sure where it sits on the site. At least the Bravern project looks pretty good.

What?! You've got to be kidding. I say blow it up with 50 tons of dynamite! That thing is a horrid wreck.

[urbanlife]

What?! You've got to be kidding. I say blow it up with 50 tons of dynamite! That thing is a horrid wreck.

haha, seriously, I like the concrete work of it. It was very simple and nothing exciting, but I like it nonetheless.

[SeattleHusky82]

i'm starting to think it could be safeway site also, but it sure sounds like the bravern. vip says 30 stories, the bravern will be twin 30 story towers. vip says it will anchored by an upscale department store, array of "prestigious" brands and a boutique hotel. exactly what the bravern will be.

It's the same project, they probably just haven't taken down the VIP Bellevue website.

Kemper hasn't announced any solid plans for the Safeway site. I don't expect to hear anything till the new Safeway is nearing completion.

[destroybananas]

i'm starting to think it could be safeway site also, but it sure sounds like the bravern. vip says 30 stories, the bravern will be twin 30 story towers. vip says it will anchored by an upscale department store, array of "prestigious" brands and a boutique hotel. exactly what the bravern will be.

Yes but VIP based on a report that had come out said it as on the current safeway site. There couldn't be another Safeway in such short distance to the one that's currently being built at the avalon maidenbauer site. There could be more prestigious brand stores in that area to compliment lincoln square and Bellevue square. Remember Kemper Freeman wants a mini Miracle Mile.

[SeattleHusky82]

Yes but VIP based on a report that had come out said it as on the current safeway site. There couldn't be another Safeway in such short distance to the one that's currently being built at the avalon maidenbauer site. There could be more prestigious brand stores in that area to compliment lincoln square and Bellevue square. Remember Kemper Freeman wants a mini Miracle Mile.

What report are you talking about? I was at the real estate symposium back in june and they had reps for what was known as "VIP Bellevue" at the time and they confirmed that it was the residential portion of the Bravern. Kemper's project on the safeway site is still in the early development stages.

[Method101]

I also remember resading somewhere on here that kemper's ls II is looking to be taller than one lincoln square, so i'm guessing it'll be more than 30 stories

[destroybananas]

What report are you talking about? I was at the real estate symposium back in june and they had reps for what was known as "VIP Bellevue" at the time and they confirmed that it was the residential portion of the Bravern. Kemper's project on the safeway site is still in the early development stages.

An article that came out early in the year.

[velciane]

The Raymer building is now gone! That was a quick demolish! They are working really quick, We should start seeing a hole dug within the next month if not sooner.

[SeattleHusky82]

Anyone going to the event on Monday?

[Skian]

:D I'm Going to the Reator preview Monday afternoon.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Well, the first Bravern thred is gone so i suppose this is the thread for not only the residences but also the office and retail.

Either way, Tower crane went up at the site today. another charming yellow one.

[velciane]

Hey new renderings and information at the website:

http://www.bravernresidences.com/workbook/index.php

[MrVandelay]

thanks Velciane, I like this downtown perspective image... Its really going to add alot to the Bellevue Skyline

http://www.bravernresidences.com/workbook/images/4_03.jpg

[northface]

hey on that picture above...on that page it is on...there is a picture of the skyline from 405 but its soo tiny!!! I WANNA SEE THAT!!!

[James Bond Agent 007]

Bah, I'm getting sick of this retail "look." :(

http://www.bravernresidences.com/workbook/images/5_03.jpg

[pablo]

I kinda like it.

[velciane]

I looks like it would fit in with the weather of Cali, not Washington. I wonder how its going to do with little cover in the winter.

[northface]

i LOVE it

[MrVandelay]

I like it to!

To answer Velciane's question above, You can take a look at Alderwood mall's recent addition or redmond town center, both have either a complete or partial outdoor theme in our climate.

Alderwood mall
http://www.djc.com/stories/images/20041209/alderwood2.jpg


Redmond Town Center
http://www.lmnarchitects.com/projects/retail_imgs/rtc_lrg.jpg

http://www.lmnarchitects.com/projects/retail_imgs/rtc_lrg2.jpg

[AZchristopher]

Its no different than shopping in Downtown Seattle during the winter. I actually love this look. It makes the retail look a lot more alive than when they are in the traditional covered malls.

[Skian]

When I saw the model a couple weeks ago, the retail remided me of the Venitian in Las Vegas, except the Bravern will be outside.

[M'sFan]

I also am a fan of this look, as long as it doesn't include parking lots. If it is strollable, with landscaping and water features in the common areas, and not grouped around asphalt, i think it is very pleasing, in a European sort of way.

[LA Guy]

I like it too and think it'll work great in the NW. It's dense enough so if the weather sucks you can bounce easily from one place to another without getting crushed. On another note, just got back from Miami which was interesting to see all the developments there. There's a lot in Miami but the Bellevue and Seattle developments are as impressive in their own right! And I think spatially better situated.

[MrVandelay]

A second tower crane was put in place today for the commerical part. Just two more cranes left to go in, one for each of the residence towers, which would give 4 cranes for the project! :) The Bravern construction site will look pretty impressive from 405 as people pass by.

[horatio_the_hermit]

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k31/admiralmaghami/IMG_0106.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k31/admiralmaghami/IMG_0101.jpg

[James Bond Agent 007]

Keep up the good work Horatio! And just to think that only a couple months ago it was still the Raymer Square building. :cool:

[NW Mike]

Are the cranes up and running on towers 3 & 4 yet?

[Skian]

No, they are still digging out the garage levels on the residential portion of the site.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Just picked this thread as it needs a bump. Does anyone know if the vue hanover crane went up this weekend. I saw the base was installed on friday. Also, when are the bravern residence cranes going up? Also, where the hell did the bellevue towers thread go? Im furious.

[Skian]

No sign of the Vue-Hanover crane. The COB website indicated that they had a permit to close the street last weekend, but they didnt.

[horatio_the_hermit]

Look at this. Found it on the bravern's commercial website.

http://www.thebravern.com/renderings/freeway-s-lg.jpg

And as if thats not awesome enough, city center plaza will fill in that hole between skyline tower and the bravern, and that tiny hole above the umpqua bank building (between the shorter bravern office tower and ashwood commons) will be filled by ashwood commons II. AND, now that i look at it again, to the right of where city center plaza will stand, one might be able to see washington square. If not phase one, certainly the eastern phase II towers. This freeway view will be full of towers soon!

[northface]

I LOVE THAT PIC!!!!! i just partied in my pants!!!

[velciane]

The Bravern East Tower's, the shorter office building, Core will be reaching the street level within the next week or so, its right below street level as of today.

[horatio_the_hermit]

any news?

[Skian]

They are slowly filling the hole.........
That is one BIG hole to fill with parking levels..........

[MrVandelay]

http://mytravellinks.com/skyscrapercity/april2007/DSC00021sm.jpg

http://mytravellinks.com/skyscrapercity/april2007/DSC00024sm.jpg

http://mytravellinks.com/skyscrapercity/april2007/DSC00020sm.jpg

[MrVandelay]

When I took these photos today, I was wanting to see a couple additional crane bases ready for the residence towers, but not yet... :(

[mhays]

The residential towers aren't fully designed yet, and don't have permits. I think they're doing the garage, then stopping briefly. Schnitzer said something about a winter start in a recent article.

In other words, they're not u-c.

[destroybananas]

^thanks for the info.

[Skian]

Wooo Hoooo!
A tower crane for the residential towers is being erected today!
Check out their web cam: http://68.178.124.204/

[velciane]

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f117/vvebmike/Bellevue/DSC00047.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f117/vvebmike/Bellevue/DSC00048.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f117/vvebmike/Bellevue/DSC00046.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f117/vvebmike/Bellevue/DSC00050.jpg

[MrVandelay]

^^^^^ Thanks for posting the photos Velciane! They are really good. I saw them just finishing up the new crane at the site yesterday! Very cool....progress :banana: