SEATTLE | Downtown Projects: Completed, U/C, Proposed/Approved - Page 109

Hoodrat · #**2161** Posted **Jun 3, 2009, 4:51 AM**

Wow!

Nice updates everyone

Vashon118 · #**2162** Posted **Jun 3, 2009, 4:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaskyfan

I went by 2nd & Pine today and they were taking down scaffolding/construction fencing. Guess the hole will be there for a while....

Maybe not. It's being reported over at urbanlvn.com that word on the street is that the hole will be filled in.

http://www.urbnlivn.com/category/sea...ences-seattle/

seaskyfan · #**2163** Posted **Jun 3, 2009, 6:35 PM**

Wow - that's one expensive parking lot. Seems like a huge waste.

InlandEmpire · #**2164** Posted **Jun 3, 2009, 7:39 PM**

It's too bad they couldn't make it a subterranean garage since there's a huge hole there already and cap it with an urban park (even temporarily until the next boom) .... maybe like Tanner Springs park in Portland. That part of downtown needs some greenery and a space for pedestrians to chill out and rest. Let part of the parking fees help with upkeep of the park. Just a thought instead of another shimmering lot of asphalt in an already barren area...one thing Portland definitely has that we lack are urban parks along pedestrian corridors. It could help capture and filter rainwater as well - maybe reuse it in a water feature.

Hans Gruber · #**2165** Posted **Jun 3, 2009, 9:08 PM**

wrong post, my bad.

alexjon · #**2166** Posted **Jun 3, 2009, 10:59 PM**

I love those panos. I'm going to be living by the Columbia Center soon so I love any large-scale photo I see of it!

Vashon118 · #**2167** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 4:35 AM**

Tower cranes galore, as seen from Lake Union (05/21)

mSeattle · #**2168** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 10:46 AM**

^They're midrise cranes at least.

InlandEmpire · #**2169** Posted **Jun 9, 2009, 1:25 AM**

It's good to see activity be it midrise or not.....that part of SLU could definitely use some upgrading at any rate. The cores of the Gates Foundation buildings are taller than I thought they would be based on the renderings I've seen....that campus should be interesting to see.

AndrewK · #**2170** Posted **Jun 13, 2009, 7:52 PM**

some really nice shots there. i was in seattle about a year ago but spent much of my time up by UW. looks like ill have to go back soon to see everything thats finished in the downtown area. again some great shots.

Aleks · #**2171** Posted **Jun 25, 2009, 4:39 AM**

Notin' new. Just some shots I took yesterday and today.

-Olivian & Olive 8-

-1918 8th-

-Aspira-

sorry for the big border on that first pic. I wanted it to line up with the O8 and Aspira pics. Guess it didn't work out too well.

Aleks · #**2172** Posted **Jun 28, 2009, 10:21 AM**

Just a skyline shot!

Aleks · #**2173** Posted **Jun 28, 2009, 11:47 AM**

Also, here's an "updated" Compilation Thread for the first page.

It's basically the same one I did a while ago but I moved things around. So should we switch to this "new" format? Should I change anything? Should I add or remove anything?

mSeattle · #**2174** Posted **Jun 28, 2009, 11:29 PM**

The skyline is still so tiny for a region this size, at least by Cascadian/Canadian standards. This is especially true as far as the inner neighborhoods being part of the highrise skyline. First Hill needs a couple dozen more highrises.

Great pictures though!

colemonkee · #**2175** Posted **Jun 29, 2009, 12:19 AM**

I disagree. Seattle's skyline is quite impressive for a city or region its size. It has height, considerable width from the Puget Sound view, and depth thanks to a lot of the new development. It's every bit as impressive as say, Dallas, which by overall market size is much larger.

mSeattle · #**2176** Posted **Jun 29, 2009, 7:31 AM**

The CBD skyline looks full in the highrise level from certain angles, but there are still some big gaps where building heights stop at three or four floors in the core of the city. Add to that the sudden/extreme drop-off in height south of Columbia.

Don't get me wrong, it's improving but it's still seems small. I guess I'm expecting a lot more 10-story and taller buildings in the First Hill and Belltown, and new midrises (8-10 floors) in Sodo, Rainier Valley and in the University District.

alexjon · #**2177** Posted **Jun 29, 2009, 6:32 PM**

You can see the Seattle skyline from miles and miles away (Edmonds, Mt. Si, etc.), and it has nice density to it. The main issue is hills that stack buildings up in a way that distorts their size and density.

The city is densifying rapidly, it's nice.

InlandEmpire · #**2178** Posted **Jun 30, 2009, 1:39 AM**

I definitely wish there was less of a sudden drop off in height south of the Columbia tower, but think otherwise Seattle has a great skyline. Our Cascadian neighbors, well, there's Vancouver which few cities in America can compete with, and I'd say we fare well in the skyline department when compared to our great neighbor to the south

Aleks · #**2179** Posted **Jun 30, 2009, 3:57 AM**

I really don't understand why people don't like the drop after Columbia? I really really like it.

For one thing, the skyscrapers on that side look ginormously tall, because, well, they are! And if the skyline kept going South after Columbia then it would have to be built into Chinatown because there is no way the city is going to allow skyscrapers in Pioneer Square.

If skyscrapers were also built to the South the skyline would look weird because all the buildings would be far away from the water, like East of 5th Ave.

Plus not allowing skyscrapers in the South means more skyscrapers in the North, where the skyscrapers follow the Elliot Bay outline and "hug" it. This creates a larger looking skyline because there are less things obstructing views of downtown than in the South, where we have the stadiums, Pioneer Square, Port of Seattle, etc... That means more density in the North, where we need it. I'd rather see those ugly parking lots go than an ugly apartment building in Chinatown.

One thing I do agree on though is that we need more density within the CDB. We need to get rid of some ugly parking garages, a couple blocks with 2 or 3 floor buildings, and some ugly hotels facing I-5.

Also, skyline needs developements too but I'd like to see 10 story buildings instead of skyscrapers. Traffic is bad enough as it is and unless we get a trolley or something I don't want to see more density. Specially along James and Madison.

For now I'm happy with the developements in Belltown and the Denny Triangle,. I'd like to see more parking lots gone though, and maybe more green areas. Oh, and some more density in the CBD. Oh, and the final reasons why I like the Columbia drop, it gives the city an unique skyline and it doesn't compete with the beautiful Smith Tower.

seaskyfan · #**2180** Posted **Jun 30, 2009, 4:06 AM**

Not sure where else to post this where folks will actually see it....

The new April 1 Population Estimates are out from the State - they're estimating Seattle going over the 600K mark - 602,000 to be exact.

http://www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/april1/default.asp

Three County MSA Estimate: 3,427,200
Eight County CSA Estimate: 4,180,600