[Urban Zombie®]

^That's a good point. Actually what I find interesting is that even one year ago no one would ever have even dreamt about the possibility of the Columbia/Bofa tower being trumped--yet here we have a developer wanting to build such a tower and a mayor who wants to see it built. Even if this falls through, who knows what will happen later on...jeez if even Nashville can build a 1,000 footer...

[AZchristopher]

But there also is the council member that always gets in the way... money talks though so hopefully the mayor wins this one.

[James Bond Agent 007]

I have a feeling that if someone tried to build something taller than Columbia Center, the FAA would get in the way as they did with Columbia Center itself.

Though I hope not.

If we can get an 800-footer I'd be thrilled.

[Urban Zombie®]

Well with corruption at an all-time high, I'm sure the FAA could be bought--especially if it were in the best interests of a Fortune 500 co. :D

Seriously though, off the top of my head I can't think of what block, specifically, the PSB block is...according to a post at SSC, at this site you could potentially build a 1,000+ footer with out it actually being higher than the Columbia/BOFA tower as it would be down the hill at a lower elevation (thus potentially not being subject to the FAA's meddling). Can anybody familiar with the site and elevation verify this?

[mhays]

Various news from Downtown Seattle, some of which people have posted already:

1. 1521 Second, a 37-story condo, has cordoned off part of its site and seems to be doing some early demo on the old youth hostel. They already announced an August 28 start.

2. Escala, a 30-story condo, fenced their site a couple weeks ago and now have a couple big equipment pieces there for demo of the existing buildings. They had also announced an August start recently.

3. Elliott & Cedar, a 14-story condo by Trammell Crow that we've known about for several years, could be getting close to starting, according to a trade publication. Sounds like it might start

4. Elliott & Battery, a 9-story condo, is out for sub bids and could therefore start in a month or so presumably.

5. Mirabella, a 400-unit, 12-story retirement/nursing complex at Denny & Fairview, had its public groundbreaking on Friday. But that was for show, as it's not fenced yet. On Saturday they were taking down a big tent.

6. The Bernard, a 60-unit, 7-story rental (?) just north of Denny on Warren, scraped their site a couple weeks ago and seems to be fully underway.

7. 333 Elliott, a 5-story office building just north of Downtown, now has a building permit and is starting in earnest.

8. Gallery, a 12-story condo at 2nd & Broad, is well into demo.

[James Bond Agent 007]

SJM on SSC said that demolition for the Escala began today, so I changed its status on the first post from "Proposed" to "Under Construction."

[Kenneth1000]

It also looks like the Enso project across the street from Westlake 2100 is getting ready to start. The old Range-Rover building is now fenced off.

[mSeattle]

Re: the PSB site. I'd rather see an 800' or two on the east side of I-5 were those gigantic surface parking lots are (like that'll ever happen), but the PSB site is ok if it breaks the 1000' mark. Too bad they can't build supertall or plain tall south of Columbia, like where that squat 4-story emergency thing is underconstruction.

[mSeattle]

The Cosmopolitan has now topped off.

Just in case anyone wanted to know. :D

Yea, I've taken some pictures of it. The top looks funny though. Half of the "crown" looks like it's trying to be a pyramid and the other half a box.

[Urban Zombie®]

Thanks for the updates MSeattle--I guess it's up to you to document their construction in my absence. :D

1521 I'm particularly excited about.

[mSeattle]

I'll try to take pictures of that site and post others shortly.

[mSeattle]

I'll try to post updates on projects more frequently. Here are a couple.

2200 Westlake - Spring 06
http://www.stringmages.com/skyscraperpage/denny/_6020348_350.JPG


Cosmopolitan - Spring 06
http://www.stringmages.com/skyscraperpage/denny/_6020326_350.JPG

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
Great pics!

You should try to get a pic of the Cosmopolitan from around the Convention Place bus station, you get a good view of the "crown" from there.

[kazpmk]

I know I've asked this before, but does anyone know if Olive 8 began foundation work yet??

[mSeattle]

Bond -- Thanks. Yes. I've seen that angle. I'm catching up and will post that one soon.

Kazpmk -- I happen to walk by Olive 8 this morning. The hole appears to be at or near bottom so foundation work could start any time.

[mSeattle]

More pictures of the Cosmo, including that angle you mentioned Bond. Still catching up. Didn't want to post most recent ones with the back-log. Now that I have web hosting I should be posting more.

http://www.stringmages.com/skyscraperpage/denny/P6191676_800.JPG

http://www.stringmages.com/skyscraperpage/denny/P6070951_640.JPG

http://www.stringmages.com/skyscraperpage/denny/P6070952_640.JPG

http://www.stringmages.com/skyscraperpage/denny/P6211770_800.JPG

http://www.stringmages.com/skyscraperpage/denny/P6221908_800.JPG

[bgwah]

Seattle needs to have the tallest building on the West Coast again!

[mSeattle]

*Need* is a strong word. It would be nice though.

[Urban Zombie®]

Which phrase would sound better:

We need to show those wacky Californians who's boss!

or

It wouldbe nice to show those wacky Californians who's boss! :D

[mSeattle]

If you are the boss, you wouldn't "need" to show, you just show as in "I'm going to show (now)". Yet also, to need to be the boss also says that someone else is currently the boss of you and you are little and "need" to feel big. If you are the boss of you, then you can take it or leve it - you don't "need" it. :D

[Urban Zombie®]

^Haha...actually my post was just aimed to tease the occassional anti-california rhetoric we see posted from time to time.

[mSeattle]

:D Yea, I figured. Just having fun with the idea.

[James Bond Agent 007]

They need something tall just to the right of 2 Union Square in this pic.

There's a gap in the skyline which MUST be filled!

http://www.stringmages.com/skyscraperpage/denny/P6221908_800.JPG

[mhays]

IDX reduced that hole a bit. Olive 8 should reduce it a little more.

The flurry of 40-story towers proposed just on this side of the CBD will cause the center-right part of the skyline to flatten from this perspective.

[mSeattle]

^Hopefully they won't be boxes.

Bond, the gap on the left of Key Tower/City Hall tower is more serious.

[mhays]

The 40-story project at 1801(?) Minor, the 27(?)-story 8th & Seneca, and the ??-story building at Denny & Yale will nibble away at that gap.

In football they name the spaces between the offensive lineman -- a certain linebacker is responsible for a certain gap, etc. Maybe we should do the same with our skyline. Since this one is from Gasworks, we'd name the gaps G1, G2, etc. (What an astonishingly nerdy project that would be. Therefore it's right up our alley! Not that I'm offering.)

[mSeattle]

^"Not that I'm offering"... No, you're the man mhays. :D

8th & Seneca I think is to be 25 levels on top of some level of below and above street parking, maybe retail too. I think I calculated it to be ~30 level building. I might be wrong.

[Urban Zombie®]

^Hopefully they won't be boxes.

Bond, the gap on the left of Key Tower/City Hall tower is more serious.

The glob of vomit sculpted into the bulky, blocky Qwest building is even more serious--somebody really needs to do something about that...

[mhays]

^"Not that I'm offering"... No, you're the man mhays. :D

8th & Seneca I think is to be 25 levels on top of some level of below and above street parking, maybe retail too. I think I calculated it to be ~30 level building. I might be wrong.

I applaud any statement that I'm "the man", and I must say you're a good judge of people. However someone else can take command of the gap map.

[mSeattle]

The glob of vomit sculpted into the bulky, blocky Qwest building is even more serious--somebody really needs to do something about that...

Thankfully I missed noticing that one. Please don't show me. :D

[mSeattle]

I applaud any statement that I'm "the man", and I must say you're a good judge of people. However someone else can take command of the gap map.

Shucks, ok. :)

[Urban Zombie®]

Thankfully I missed noticing that one. Please don't show me. :D

That bulky abomination is probably the biggest pock mark in Seattle's cluster...to not notice it is like not noticing Rosanne getting trashed at a supermodel convention :D

[mSeattle]

Oh, the building itself! :) Olive8 will cover up part of it on its north/east (?) side.

[Last Chance]

Demolition started at the Escala site (according to this article).

Here's a link to the article in the PSBJ:

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2006/08/21/daily15.html?f=et80&hbx=e_du

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
You're way behind:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2244902&postcount=306

[Urban Zombie®]

Oh, the building itself! :) Olive8 will cover up part of it on its north/east (?) side.

Yeah, I've been hoping that will be the case--and maybe a few of the other new towers will block most or all of it from every other angle.

[James Bond Agent 007]

^Hopefully they won't be boxes.

Bond, the gap on the left of Key Tower/City Hall tower is more serious.
Yeah that's true, but unlike the 2 Union Square gap I don't realistically expect that one to be filled any time soon. Unless they tear down the jail.

[mSeattle]

^ 5th & Yesler?

[Vashon118]

Since demolition has begun at the Belltown Gallery site, shouldn't its status be changed to "under construction"?

[hi123]

Any news on 1521 . I love that tower.

[mhays]

1521 not only fenced the vacant lot next door (two weeks ago), but has now also fenced a walkway to the front door of the existing building. Looks like the start of "soft" demo. Maybe they're just getting ready to start this Monday, which is the day they announced several weeks ago.

[hi123]

Thanks mhays! thanks for the quick reply!

[Vashon118]

Went by the 2'nd & Pine site this morning and noticed part of it was fenced off (the unpaved parking space at the SE corner). Also saw a sign mentioning who was financing this project (didn't see it there before) and a crew was removing boards from the billboard (couldn't tell if they were just replacing the boards of if they were in the process of removing the billboard completely).

[mSeattle]

^Is this the site for the tall "box" or the stepped "wedding cake"?

[Vashon118]

^Is this the site for the tall "box" or the stepped "wedding cake"?

Hmmmm..... I searched the site and didn't see any mention of any building in Seattlebeing refered to as a "stepped wedding cake"

[James Bond Agent 007]

Went by the 2'nd & Pine site this morning and noticed part of it was fenced off (the unpaved parking space at the SE corner). Also saw a sign mentioning who was financing this project (didn't see it there before) and a crew was removing boards from the billboard (couldn't tell if they were just replacing the boards of if they were in the process of removing the billboard completely).
That's been there a while.

[seaskyfan]

2nd and Pine (west half of the block between Pine and Stewart and 2nd and 3rd) is the wedding cake.

[Vashon118]

2nd and Pine (west half of the block between Pine and Stewart and 2nd and 3rd) is the wedding cake.

I had a feeling that was the wedding cake (even though the rendering didn't seem to resemble one to me).

That crew I saw this morning on the billboard was just changing the sign boards... sign was fully functional when I checked again this afternoon.

[mhays]

A 100(?)-unit woodframe project is demoing right now across from the Art Institute.

With some projects completing this summer and others starting, we're staying right around 3,000-uc in Greater Downtown, defined as a pretty large 2,000 acre area.

Wouldn't it be fun to keep that pace going for a few more years.

[mhays]

Actually we're up to more like 3,500 units u-c in that 2,000-acre area. That's with a liberal description of "u-c", meaning demo, which is a bit disingenuous but I'm stickin with it.

[Vashon118]

1. 1521 Second, a 37-story condo, has cordoned off part of its site and seems to be doing some early demo on the old youth hostel. They already announced an August 28 start.

Is that when they're supposed to start tearing down the building (which, as of this morning, hasn't started yet) or when they start the interior demo work in earnest?

[mhays]

The western windows have been taken out. I suppose that means interior demo in earnest. But I don't really know what they're doing.

[James Bond Agent 007]

http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2006/08/28/daily22.html?jst=b_ln_hl
^
I moved 1521 2nd in the first post from "proposed" to "under construction"

[hi123]

any new pics of 2200 westlake?

[James Bond Agent 007]

^
mSeattle took a few recently, I think.

Check out some of his threads in the NW section. Or maybe City Photos.

[mhays]

Another Clise proposal in DPD today. On 1/6 of a block at 6th & Lenora (liquor store?), 325-400 units, I'm guessing this is a 400' zone...

[mSeattle]

This sounds close to that big aluminum building proposed with the flag pole on top.

[mhays]

If you're talking about the one at Denny, it's about four blocks away.

[mhays]

Between Seattle and Bellevue, we now have 29 high-rises under construction, using a broad definition of the term. That's not Dubai, or Vancouver, but it's the most WE'VE ever had at once. This is fun to watch!

[mSeattle]

Ha ha, a broad definition of the term. Still it's great that 29 of them are actually somewhere in the act of construction.

[mSeattle]

If you're talking about the one at Denny, it's about four blocks away.

Actually I was thinkin 7th and Westlake. BTW, last I went by nothing was happening on that site though they put up that big signage a while back.

[genghis]

No one seems to have posted in a couple of weeks.

5th and Yesler is a go. (see first page)

17 floors plus 3 underground parking levels. Shoring permit was submitted a couple of weeks ago.

It could've been taller (24 floors) but was limited by 1) F.A.R. and 2) flight path of helicoptors to Harborview.

Site mobilization starts early next spring.

[Vashon118]

Mosler Lofts (9/14/06)

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2087/moslerlofts91406jk7.jpg

The building at the 1521 2'nd Ave site is still there (interior demolition seems to be taking a long time).

[mhays]

They're probably saving architectural pieces at 1521.

PS, Escala got its shoring permit last week. Should be starting in earnest though these things aren't always immediate.

[Car Free]

24-hours in Seattle: yesterday morning I cut through the parking lot just north of the Camlin Hotel building (now a Trendwest or something resort) on my way to work (walking, of course). I took the bus back home yesterday evening and took the bus again this morning to work. Walking back home this evening from work, however, I noticed that both of the parking lots along Olive Way between 8th and 9th Avenues were fenced off and out of commission. This is usually a good sign, no? But then I thought maybe this is related to Sound Transit's tunnel work. I don't remember if something has been proposed for this site or not (maybe a high-end apartments, I seem to remember?) At this point I've lost track of all the projects that have been proposed.

I'm still waiting patiently for 2nd and Pine to start. What a hole in the streetscape that will fill. 2nd and Pike is probably even more important, but it looks like that one is much further behind.

[mhays]

You mean the parking lots north of the Camlin?! That's a 27-story luxury rental apartment spanning the whole 1/3 block. They'd predicted a fall start a while back. I'd be very excited to call that one a start as soon as they start scraping. BTW, it's not Sound Transit. And nobody fences off a revenue-generating parking lot without good reason.

[mhays]

I walked by. And yes, they've fenced off the site north of the Camlin/Trendwest. From afar it looked like the alley isn't vacated -- I'm guessing they'll need that since the tower spans that RoW. Maybe they're planning to scrape the site soon and then get to the excavation/shoring and alley when the permits come in.

Moda is also fenced. Could they be starting demo this month in advance of the October start date?

[Derek]

twins!!!
seattle
http://www.touchstonecorp.com/resources/new%20rendering%20-%20sm.jpg
san diego
http://www.sandiegometro.com/images/0401/realestate_1.jpg

i like this building design tho and all of these seattle projects look great!:tup:

[ShekelPop]

just wanted to share a recent photo of your gorgeous skyline i was able to snap while on vacation. i love the recent buildings with tons of blue glass. cant wait to visit again!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58399077@N00/248782072/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58399077@N00/248782072/

[James Bond Agent 007]

It looks like demolition is well underway now for the 1521 2nd condo.

Green Tortoise hostel coming down
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) - 1:30 PM PDT Wednesday

The Green Tortoise Hostel on Second Avenue in downtown Seattle is being destroyed this week to make room for a 38-story condominium tower.

Demolition began Wednesday and will continue through Friday. Construction will then begin on Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue, which will be a 440-foot-tall, 141-unit condo project.

Developers say the building will be the city's tallest residential tower. They added that the condo project, the first built under new city zoning rules that allow taller and skinnier buildings, will open in the fall of 2008.

[hi123]

great news!^

[Vashon118]

A couple of updates:

Concrete pouring on the Sheraton expansion is up to floor 24 now.

Demolition on the Moda Condos site has started.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Olive 8 wants 'city's tallest' title
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) - 2:54 PM PDT Wednesday

Developers of the Olive 8 condo project at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Olive Way in downtown Seattle want to add three more stories to their condo project and claim the title of the city's tallest residential tower.

Right now, developers of Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue, which will be a 38-story, 440-foot-tall, 141-unit condo project in downtown, say their project will be the "city's tallest residential tower" when it's completed.

But R.C. Hedreen Co. said it wants to add three more stories to the Olive 8 project under construction to make it 455 feet tall and 39 stories. It will ask for City Council approval for the three additional stories, which would add another 33 condos. The project is expected to open in the summer of 2008.

The city changed its rules earlier this year to allow for taller and skinnier buildings; those changes affected the developer's plans.

"These additional floors are largely in response to Olive 8's overwhelming success and popularity. The newly revised city code allowing taller buildings was also a major factor in the decision," said David Thyer, president of R.C. Hedreen Co., in a statement. He added that 160 of the project's original 198 condos have been sold so far. The lower 17 floors of the project will contain a Hyatt hotel with 350 rooms.

[mSeattle]

^ If they get it it'll be semantics because it's a mixed use tower not all-residential. 1521 will still be tallest all-residential.

[mSeattle]

Not sure if it has been discussed already. But I think this one has changed.

http://www.2000third.com/images/corner_site.jpg

The sign on the lot now says 42 levels with 500 residentials.

[James Bond Agent 007]

^ If they get it it'll be semantics because it's a mixed use tower not all-residential. 1521 will still be tallest all-residential.
Good point.

[mSeattle]

1823 Terry Ave

http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/luib/3003807.jpg
http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/luib/Notice.aspx?id=3701

Land Use Application to allow a high rise, 34-story, 300 unit apartment building with 6,437 sq. ft. of ground floor retail. Parking for 387 vehicles will be located on six levels of above and below grade parking.

[mhays]

Not sure if it has been discussed already. But I think this one has changed.

http://www.2000third.com/images/corner_site.jpg

The sign on the lot now says 42 levels with 500 residentials.

Yes, I've mentioned this one several times since the first DPD notice in 2005. I was starting to think this was the twilight zone. Like being in a crowded room and calling out, with nobody noticing...

[mSeattle]

Yes, I've mentioned this one several times since the first DPD notice in 2005. I was starting to think this was the twilight zone. Like being in a crowded room and calling out, with nobody noticing...

Only AntonAustrial or a moderator can update it.

[Urban Zombie®]

^Yeah, I went to change that info a while back, but then I realized that none of the projects in the original post have floor or height stats as it is, so as of now, there really isn't anything to change...and as far as I know, there is no new rendering for that project. Can anybody find one? The sooner we can update the rather embarassing original rendering for the project, the better.

Also, it has been mentioned that 5th and Yesler is a go. Due to the shaky history of the project, I'll wait until I hear news of it actually breaking ground until I get off my lazy ass and update it--unless Bond proceeds to do it before that.

But, yeah, I agree...our thread here is pretty pathetic compared to its SSC equivalent (already on part 5).

[testdrive]

Just curious read here something about the Mayor and City Coucil at odds about the possibilty of a mega-tall building which may top out at over 1000'. Anything new about that or is that not really something to hold your breath about?

[seaskyfan]

There's no height limit in the Downtown Office Core (since April of this year), although there are some FAA regs that would make it tough to build a 1000 footer in some parts of the unlimited height area.

There was a proposal around saving a historic church Downtown where a developer wanted the City to let him build a tower on the block next to Seattle City Hall where a smaller building and a plaza are planned. The church decided on another deal and that particular block is outside the unlimited height area. Could that be what you're thinking of?

[James Bond Agent 007]

Yes, I've mentioned this one several times since the first DPD notice in 2005. I was starting to think this was the twilight zone. Like being in a crowded room and calling out, with nobody noticing...
Do we have a new rendering for this one? I could get rid of the old rendering, but it would seem disappointing to do so until we get a new one. :D

[mSeattle]

Who is the developer for that site (2000 3rd Ave.)?

[mhays]

Tarragon.

They haven't published a rendering that I'm aware of.

[mSeattle]

They do, but it's the WORST thing, right up there with West 8th!
Dear gawd, please don't let them build that!

2000 3rd Ave - http://www.tarragon.com/properties/2000_3rd_ave.html
http://www.tarragon.com/images/properties/body_2000_3rd_ave.jpg

[seaskyfan]

Wow. That looks huge.

For some reason it reminds me of the building George and Weezy moved into in "The Jeffersons."

[PDXPaul]

It's just a box. I think a lot of it will depend on how the windows come out in real life.

[seapug]

i don't see why boxes are such a bad thing. i think cities like dubai where every building is all crazy and stuff just look retarded. you can't even tell what's going on. i think most buildings should be simple with something subtle to set them apart and a few crazy buildings mixed in there

[J. Will]

Wow. That looks huge.

For some reason it reminds me of the building George and Weezy moved into in "The Jeffersons."


Weezy, fix 'em up a plate.

http://orchardblog.wordpress.com/files/2006/03/jeffersons.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g240/jwill_01/jeffersons.jpg

[mSeattle]

Hopefully it's just a "for scale" rendering.

[hi123]

Does anyone know if they have completed the demolition of the buildings at the site of 1521 second? I hope it starts contruction soon!:whip:

[blackc5]

Wow, if that is a real rendering, 2000 3rd is pretty 'Meh'. Also funny - I recall the Escala sales people mentioning that the 3rd & Virginia building was going to be a short one, and wouldn't impact Escala's west facing views much. LOL. Perhaps they only knew of the old rendering as well - or were thinking of another building...

[mSeattle]

I think Escala is on the south side of Virginia. There will be some blocking looking northwest but that's all.

[James Bond Agent 007]

They do, but it's the WORST thing, right up there with West 8th!
Dear gawd, please don't let them build that!

2000 3rd Ave - http://www.tarragon.com/properties/2000_3rd_ave.html
http://www.tarragon.com/images/properties/body_2000_3rd_ave.jpg
Yeah that looks horrid.

It also looks like it'll block some views from the Escala. :D

[James Bond Agent 007]

Does anyone know if they have completed the demolition of the buildings at the site of 1521 second? I hope it starts contruction soon!:whip:
Have't been down there in about a week, but I would think they'd be done demolishing stuff there by now.

[RamsayHank]

Does anyone know if they have completed the demolition of the buildings at the site of 1521 second? I hope it starts contruction soon!:whip:

If that's the site of the old Green Tortoise hostel, then yes, it's pretty clear - I was down around there yesterday afternoon.

[JiminyCricket II]

Yeah that looks horrid.

It also looks like it'll block some views from the Escala. :D

So are you going to replace the old (dead) rendering of 2000 third with the new rendering? I'm tired of looking at that old one for the last 5 years.

[mhays]

Anyone who thought Escala's views were permanent simply wasn't paying attention.

[testdrive]

Thanks, yeah that was the article I read that was mentioning a 1000' possibility. Oh well guess we will have to wait for something new to develop. If and when the chance comes up I sure hope the design is really outstanding.