SEATTLE | Downtown Projects: Completed, U/C, Proposed/Approved - Page 190

Why Kyle · #**3781** Posted **Mar 3, 2015, 3:39 PM**

That Insignia project seems like it is flying skyward. I feel like just last week the second tower was barely above street level.

mSeattle · #**3782** Posted **Mar 3, 2015, 7:57 PM**

^ In the long scheme it does seem fast, but anyone remembering the 90s with vast surface parking and 1-floor buildings will feel it can't complete soon enough.

mSeattle · #**3783** Posted **Mar 3, 2015, 7:58 PM**

March 3, 2015
JTM installs construction fencing at Weyerhaeuser site in Pioneer Square
By JOURNAL STAFF

JTM Construction has set up a fence around the Pioneer Square site where Urban Visions plans to build a new headquarters for Weyerhaeuser Co.

Image by Mithun [enlarge]

navyweaxguy · #**3784** Posted **Mar 4, 2015, 1:32 AM**

I took a giant pano from Alki Beach today. If anyone wants to post it, message me.

The original size was 25K pixels long 300mb
10K is 10mb
5K is 3mb
2.5K is 715K

It's not perfect, but I goodquickone

alki · #**3785** Posted **Mar 4, 2015, 6:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mSeattle

March 3, 2015
JTM installs construction fencing at Weyerhaeuser site in Pioneer Square
By JOURNAL STAFF

JTM Construction has set up a fence around the Pioneer Square site where Urban Visions plans to build a new headquarters for Weyerhaeuser Co.

The revival in Pioneer Sq is pretty impressive........just 6 years ago, the place was being written off as near dead. Now its becoming a hotbed for tech and new restaurants.

mhays · #**3786** Posted **Mar 4, 2015, 8:02 PM**

That was partially hype and misleading headlines. In 1971 Seattle wasn't a ghost town despite Boeing's layoffs, and didn't really shrink at all as a metro. In 1995 the retail core was still better than most cities'. A few years ago Pioneer Square was pretty vibrant despite having fewer office workers and no giant bookstore.

But yes it's better now, and moving up quickly. This project (which got a building permit yesterday) fills in a missing tooth, and will do a lot to create a critical mass during the daytimes. It'll be interesting culturally of course...a legacy company from the suburbs isn't the same workforce as the typical young techies/creatives and public employees that currently dominate the offices in the area.

mSeattle · #**3787** Posted **Mar 4, 2015, 8:42 PM**

IMO, Pioneer Square just suffered for a lack of housing period. Wish more residents there could be more businesses other than bars and import furniture/rugs. Every little bit of added employment helps to hopefully also attract more residential developers.

mhays · #**3788** Posted **Mar 4, 2015, 9:57 PM**

The North Lot added 500 units. The phase 2 hotel underway will be even bigger in terms of pedestrians and shopping/dining dollars. Four housing projects with 400 units are underway in PS and/or the near end of the ID (ok, three are in the latter) and others are coming. Just filling in office vacancies has been a big boost, particularly Smith Tower (which ended its plan to convert to housing) and 505 First S. It's moving quickly.

mSeattle · #**3789** Posted **Mar 4, 2015, 10:07 PM**

Smith Tower is planning to convert to housing?

It's great that there are the projects coming to northlot and the ID. When the streetcar finally starts, then development should pick up along the PS/lower and upper ID/FH/CD corridor.

Why Kyle · #**3790** Posted **Mar 4, 2015, 11:25 PM**

Maybe I missed the Arena thread, but since the E.I.S. for that thing is nearly complete, does anyone think we'll see even more development that direction once they finally break ground? GO METROPOLITANS!

mhays · #**3791** Posted **Mar 5, 2015, 12:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mSeattle

Smith Tower is planning to convert to housing?

It's great that there are the projects coming to northlot and the ID. When the streetcar finally starts, then development should pick up along the PS/lower and upper ID/FH/CD corridor.

No, but it was being considered once, and the offices thinned out while they weren't signing new leases.

Nexis4Jersey · #**3792** Posted **Mar 5, 2015, 12:48 AM**

And Shes Finally out...

Bertha's parking spot by WSDOT, on Flickr

joeg1985 · #**3793** Posted **Mar 5, 2015, 3:28 PM**

WOH. That is quite the picture. Now to lift her from the ground and place her neatly in a scrap metal yard.

alki · #**3794** Posted **Mar 5, 2015, 7:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeg1985

WOH. That is quite the picture. Now to lift her from the ground and place her neatly in a scrap metal yard.

Actually, they are going to try and take out the damaged parts and replace them. It will interesting to watch this one play out.

mSeattle · #**3795** Posted **Mar 5, 2015, 11:40 PM**

March 4, 2015
GID gets OK for second 41-story apartment tower on Lenora St.
By JOURNAL STAFF

http://www.djc.com/news/re/12075284.html

GID Development Group of Boston got environmental and design approval this week from the Seattle Department of Planning and Development for another 41-story apartment tower. This one would be at 2101 Ninth Ave.

Image courtesy Weber Thompson [enlarge]

mhays · #**3796** Posted **Mar 5, 2015, 11:44 PM**

Just a reminder, but "approval" for a land use permit is only a step in getting the actual land use permit, which might follow in a few weeks. Then they need the first-phase (generally shoring) building permit, which in this case might be roughly concurrent.

mSeattle · #**3797** Posted **Mar 6, 2015, 12:12 AM**

So you're saying that we might start to see some kind of activity on the ground in the next month or so?

mhays · #**3798** Posted **Mar 6, 2015, 4:35 AM**

You can find clues on its DPD permit page, but that only relates to the soonest things might go theoretically based upon visible progress. Yes it looks like it could be this month, in theory.

Sometimes a developer slows down (sometimes that's the intent all along) or sometimes the details can bog things down, like a surprise code interpretation that costs in the six figures and means added design work with related delay. Any number of things can get in the way. Financing terms and decisions, construction price and terms, market analysis, any player's insurance details, contamination onsite, a late decision to wring another million out of the price....

Go to http://web1.seattle.gov/DPD/permitst...spx?id=6424553, find the shoring permit, and watch progress in the "review" tab. When all of the technical categories say "approved" or "waived" then the permit might be in less than two weeks if they choose to jump through the remaining hoops. If you click on "land use permit" you'll see that the decision is published but the permit isn't yet issued.

alki · #**3799** Posted **Mar 7, 2015, 6:18 PM**

Builder targets SLU 'bulls-eye' for tower

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/b...s-eye-for.html

alki · #**3800** Posted **Mar 7, 2015, 6:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhays

That was partially hype and misleading headlines. In 1971 Seattle wasn't a ghost town despite Boeing's layoffs, and didn't really shrink at all as a metro. In 1995 the retail core was still better than most cities'. A few years ago Pioneer Square was pretty vibrant despite having fewer office workers and no giant bookstore.

You're right. It wasn't as bad as the media was making it out to be. Nonetheless, Pioneer Sq was in a funk. It had just lost Elliott Bay Books to CH and there were a lot of vacant storefronts. Smith Tower was gutted of tenants. Crime was on the uptick. The prognosis did not look good.

Six years later......new restaurant after new restaurant has opened up along with new galleries. Smith Tower is filling up nicely. New construction and rehab is underway and more tech is moving in. And surprise of all surprises, Weyerhaeuser is moving its headquarters to PS. That's a pretty dramatic shift in 6 years.