Pioneer Square Board Gives the OK On 25 Story Apartment Building

If you’ve heard, the rumors are true; the city board, who has been in charge of keeping the historic presentation of Pioneer Square alive, cast their votes and approved the modern sleek design of a 25-story apartment high rise just north of the Sodo stadiums. The all glass and steel tower will be sectioned into 2-4 story boxes, that will be positioned at varying angles. The building is part of a larger project named Stadium Place, in what previously was the North Parking Lot of Century Link Field.

Photo Courtesy of the Seattle Times, ZGF Architects

 

The collaborative developers Daniels Real Estate and R.D. Merril presented the design back in December, and were met with mixed reviews, some stating that the design was far too modern to fit in with the historical appeal of Pioneer Square. But most members of the Pioneer Square Preservation Board actually had positive reviews of the design, and were all in agreeance with the new construction. The “South Tower” would be just a little shorter than the stadium, at 240 feet tall, and will have 333 units. Other projects are in the planning stages for the first phase of Stadium Place, such as a 20 story condo tower, and an office and hotel tower as well. For more information on these apartments, visit the Seattle Times.

Posted in Rentals, Seattle Apartments, Seattle Rental Market, Seattle Rentals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Holland Development Plans Huge High Rise on 9th & Pine

If you’ve always dreamed of living in the highest high rise apartment building in Seattle you’re in luck…. Holland Development is planning the construction for your new humble abode right now! According to a report today in the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce,  Holland is preparing to start construction on what will soon be noted as Seattle’s tallest apartment tower. The building will sit on the Southwest corner of 9th & Pine just West of the Paramount Theater and will stand nearly 40 feet taller than the nearby Aspira building. The building is planned to be 440 feet tall, with 386 units and 269 parking stalls. While this might seem like a hefty project for Holland Development by itself, they also have 6 other projects in the works and will be responsible for putting 1,400 new apartment units downtown. For more information on the project please visit the Daily Journal of Commerce.

Posted in Downtown Seattle - Belltown, Featured Rentals, Seattle Apartments, Seattle Rental Market, Seattle Rentals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SDOT Offers Free Parking Sunday for Mother’s Day

The Washington State Department of Transportation and the City of Seattle are in collaboration with a handful of waterfront restaurants and parking operators to give a salute to their mothers and offer free parking for up to 4 hours this Sunday, from 9am-7pm. The promotion is one of several steps WSDOT and the Seattle Department of transportation are taking to make up for lost off-street parking closures due to the State Route 99 tunnel construction and other work along the waterfront. This Sunday, the waterfront area will be open for business during construction, and visitors taking their Mother’s out can take advantage of more than 1,100 free parking spaces. Parking is available at 5 participating parking facilities, waterfront restaurants are validating parking for many of their lots by showing a receipt. Participating businesses include Alaskan Sourdough Bakery,  The Crab Pot, Elliott’s Oyster House, Ivar’s Pier 54 Fish Bar, and Seattle Aquarium among others. If you’d like to plan ahead, you can find more information about the parking promotion here.

Posted in General News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Buying a Home Might Not Get Much Cheaper

Many renters today are choosing to put off buying a home for several reasons, statistics show that buying a home might not get any cheaper than it is right now. Experts say that 2012 may bet the last year for buyers to take advantage of the weak housing market and foreclosure influx. According to CNN Money, home prices are down 34% Nationally from 2006, and mortgage rates are at an all time low, making it the best year yet to find the bargain deal of a lifetime.

Economists with PNC Financial Services believe that home prices will flatten out by the third quarter of this year, and might begin to climb at the beginning of next year. There are several indicators that the housing market is picking up like the decline in foreclosures, and continued job growth nationwide, and buyers will have more access to affordable mortgages as they build their credit scores. While some prospective buyers who have been wary might be more willing to follow through because of the all-time low mortgage rates and lower home values, some renters still aren’t in a position to take the next step and will ultimately miss the grace period. For more information on the housing market, click here.

Posted in Rentals, Residential, Seattle Real Estate, Seattle Rental Market | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Survey Shows Renters More Optimistic About Buying

Renters in today’s market may have seen the value of their parent’s homes sky rocket, then deplete, or they most likely know someone who’s home is up for foreclosure. According to a survey done by the PulteGroup, The hope of home ownership is still in the air for many who rent and want to buy. Survey results showed that 60% of renters who said they would like to buy a home in the future have increased their intent to buy a home in comparison to a year ago. 61% of those folks also said they planned to purchase a home within the next two years.

When asked if they thought buying a home was a good investment, 44% of those poled said yes. According to Builderonline.com, the PulteGroup’s responded to the overall survey results with “We are seeing a renewed sense of optimism, especially from young professionals and young families visiting our communities nationwide,” Deborah Meyer, PulteGroup senior vice president. Many factors went into this survey and interestingly enough the pole also found that just over 1/4 of those poled believe that renting is cheaper than buying, and a little shy of a quarter are still worried about a stable job. For more information on Rentals and For Sale listings in the area, visit Craistlist.

Posted in Rentals, Residential, Seattle Real Estate, Seattle Rentals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

For Rent: Luxury Belltown Condo With Sweeping Views

Are you looking for a luxury rental in the heart of downtown Seattle?  Perhaps you’d like to live on the Seattle waterfront at Pike Place market?  If so, we have the perfect rental for you.  This two bedroom, one and a half bathroom condo is located in the legendary Pike and Virginia Building offering breathtaking views of Elliot Bay, Mt. Rainier, the Olympic Mountains and downtown Seattle waterfront from the floor to ceiling windows.  The unit features a gorgeous marble bathroom, a French country kitchen and a spiral staircase leading to the loft-style bedroom.  Residents will enjoy superb restaurants, shopping, entertainment and everything downtown Seattle has to offer, all just a short walk away.  This unit is available for rent for $6,700/mo.  Please contact the Ewing & Clark Madison Park office for more information.  To search for more Seattle luxury rentals, please visit our online property search. 

Status: For Rent
Beds/Bath: 2/1.5
List Price: $6,700
Posted in Downtown Seattle - Belltown, Rentals, Residential, Seattle Real Estate, Seattle Rentals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seattle May Day Protesters Leave Their Mark on the City

When you stepped outside for lunch and saw the sun peeking out of the clouds on this lovely 1st day of May, you probably didn’t think you’d be tuning into NPR and hearing about how the “Black Bloc” protesters were already tearing apart the Seattle City limits. Around 11:50am peaceful protesters migrated from Seattle Central

Photo of areas affected by the Protestors of May Day in Seattle, Courtesy of the Seattle Times

Community College to Westlake Center to join the demonstrations taking place in the square such as a concert put on by Hiphop Occupy Seattle. Less than an hour later approximately 300 people  including the “Black Bloc” folks armed with sticks, wooden riot batons and other makeshift weapons marched from the park west on  Pike Street then south on Third Avenue. They began jumping on cars and sprawling out across the streets and causing significant property damage to retail spaces like Starbucks, Nordstrom, Niketown, and many other businesses. They did extensive damage to the 9th district court house and Wells Fargo Bank on 3rd Avenue. Officers were able to get to the crowds and an unknown number of arrests were made after these damages.

According to the Seattle Times, Nike has release a statement: “Nike supports free and peaceful protests. We do not condone violence. Fortunately, no one was injured at Niketown Seattle. We will re-open the store as quickly as possible.”

Posted in Commercial, General News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Zillow Reports Rentals Continue to Outshine Housing Market

According to Zillow’s Real Estate Market Report in February, the median price in rent had risen 2% since February 2011, and home values had continued to fall, dropping 4.5% during the same time period. Zillow’s Rent Index illustrated that the year over year gains for an estimated 68% of metropolitan markets measured by the ZRI, and only 8% of metro areas covered by the Zillow Home Value Indexsaw home values rise.

Seattle Rental In Leschi Neighborhood

Today’s rental market is continuing to heat up, with an emphasis on areas where home values have consistently been declining. Foreclosures have been at the forefront in keeping home values down, with foreclosure re-sales making up an  estimated 20.3% of all sales in the month of February. Zillow experts have said that we’ve made it through the worst of the housing market recession, but with the enormous inventory of foreclosures and unemployment are all still factors to overcome on the rise to recovery. For more information on rental listings in the Seattle area, visit Ewing & Clark and Craigslist.

Posted in Rentals, Seattle Real Estate, Seattle Rental Market, Seattle Rentals | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Only One Unit Left in the Art Stable!

There is only one unit left for sale in the Tom Kundig designed Art Stable in the South Lake Union neighborhood! Check out this listing, along with others for sale/lease, that the folks over at Urbnlivn have compiled.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Looking for a Unique Rental? Live in a Church!

If you’ve been searching for a rental unlike any other around town, check out this converted home on Ballard that was once an actual church! This quirky 6,300 sf Ballard landmark, located at 2007 NW 61st St is partially renovated for residential living quarters, and has that spooky haunted house/old spirits lurking around the church feel to it.

Photo Courtesy of RedFin

This 6 Bedroom, 3.25 bath is equipped with a bell tower, abandoned tricycles amidst the entryway and a relatively large attic space and can be your humble abode for $789,000. Find other listings in the Ballard neighborhood here.

Posted in Rentals, Rented / Leased, Seattle Apartments, Seattle Real Estate, Seattle Rental Market | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment