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Seattle University’s Big Plans for 12th and Madison

The 6-way intersection of 12th Ave, Madison St. and Union St, on the Southern edge of Capitol Hill, is set to change dramatically over the coming years. Just in the past week, two much anticipated bars, The Pony and Tavern Law, have opened around the intersection and Trace Lofts’ huge corner commercial space could see a tenant any day now. In addition, two substantial development projects are slated to begin construction very soon: 1222 E. Madison (whose permit was just today conditionally granted) and  1111 E. Union (Design Review info coming soon). For years the Southwest corner of the intersection has been a formidable concrete warehouse with few windows and little pedestrian access, a testament to the neighborhood’s industrial past. But as the area around it transforms into one of Capitol Hill’s most exciting new destination spots, this building could turn out to be the huge cherry on this intersection pie.

 


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According to the Seattle Historic Survey, the warehouse was originally built in 1910 and took advantage of Madison St.’s wide thoroughfare to downtown and the waterfront. In 1971 the building was purchased by REI and used as a storage facility for its main store a few blocks away (in what is now Value Village). In 1985 the building was sold to Seattle University and was turned into a self storage facility, which it remains to this day.

Well, back in April at Capitol Hill Housing’s Future of 12th Ave Forum, Michel Kerns, SU’s Associate Vice President of Facilities, alluded to development of this property by saying, “Let’s just say that storage will not be the ultimate use for that site.”

I followed up with Mr. Kerns via email about this project he informed me that the University had conducted a preliminary study of the site in 2007 to address “needs for academic space and housing”. According to Kerns:

 

The study suggested that the university add three floors to the existing 5 story structure:
 
Floor 1 (street level) – retail and main entrance
Floors 2-5 –  [student] housing
Floors 6-7 – academic space (classrooms and facility offices)
Floor 8 – conference and meeting room space

In addition, Kerns said that the project was aimed at improving the streetscape and the University’s interaction with the community. Kerns wrote that, “this will be the most important future SU project in terms of neighborhood redevelopment. This will be a signature facility for the university” (emphasis added).

And no doubt Seattle University intends to make this a stand out project. The study was conducted by Seattle’s most prominent architecture firm, Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects. The firm has won over 65 regional and national awards and was named the American Institute of Architects Firm of the Year in 2009 (see also, 1111 E. Pike). Kerns also said that the project was designed for LEED Gold and includes a green roof, solar paneling, and passive/natural ventilation.

And now for the moment you have all been waiting for, a rendering of the proposed building:

Photo Courtesy of OSKA Architects

 

Sadly the building will not meet its 2011 construction target but Kerns said the building should be, “completed in the 2013 – 2015 range”. In the meantime Kerns said they are looking into activating the streetscape by enhancing the building’s street level uses.

And a final note: If you’re wondering why this project hasn’t been on DPD’s radar, major institutions (such as university’s, hospitals, etc.) are not required to go through the design review process and are exempt from formal zoning requirements. Instead they must go through a Master Planning Process with the city. This particular building was planned in Phase I of SU’s 2006 Facilities Master Plan, a plan that set the foundation for the Major Institution Master Plan which SU is updating right now.

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Comrade Bunny
Comrade Bunny
14 years ago

Don’t get me wrong, I like the design just fine. There’s just something about moder looking buildings on corners like this – they look like they’re about to take off into outer space. Pony looks the same way. Starship Pony, meet Starship SU.

PS Josh – Mmm, intersection pie…Architecturally delicious!

kstineback
kstineback
14 years ago

Comrade, isn’t this what makes corner buildings iconic and cool? Like the Flatiron in Manhattan – you never forget them.

I want to applaud SU for being willing to return this historic building to residential use (even if it is student housing), add vibrant ground floor retail (not a storage business) and move away from a use here that I am sure is a “cash cow” for them.

Michael said at the 12th Avenue forum that they “have to get this building right” and he is absolutely right about this – this is the building that will serve as the informal entrance to their campus in the future, and it must speak not only to students (inward) but also to the greater Central Area and Cap Hill communities (outward). My personal and professional hope is that it will help us transform this intersection into a place where you aren’t afraid that you might get run over on a daily basis.

Great summary Josh.

kstineback
kstineback
14 years ago

Also check out the 12th ave blog for more on what is going on at this intersection – lots of changes!

http://capitolhillhousing.org/12thave/?p=450

Heath
Heath
14 years ago

How can SU be talking about an 8-story bulding when all the adjacent zoning is RC-65? I know they have a Master Use Plan, but I will be surprised if the existing plan allows a building of this height.

RS
RS
14 years ago

What is the word on when the storage folks will be kicked out?

kstineback
kstineback
14 years ago

SU has totally different zoning than neighborhoods do (all institutions do). There are many places on the SU campus where they can go higher than 100 feet. They are in the midst of updating this campus plan now (expanding their boundaries in places and rezoning height in others). The concept is that because they cannot expand outwards into residential neighborhoods, they have to go up to meet their build-out and growth needs. Obviously, there are places more appropriate for this than others, like on 12th vs. 14th Ave.

kstineback
kstineback
14 years ago
wes kirkman
wes kirkman
14 years ago

What are those giant green-house looking things on the roof? Are those the conference rooms? Why are they 2.5 stories tall?

“My personal and professional hope is that it will help us transform this intersection into a place where you aren’t afraid that you might get run over on a daily basis. “
Hear, hear. The only way I see to do that is to expand the sidewalks (especially south side of Madison), further restrict/tighten some movements (east bound Madison to Union and west bound Madison to Union), and lessen crossing distances (south crossing of 12th and both crossings of Madison). Seeing as how the City just repaved without accomplishing any of the above, my guess is that is not in the cards.

wes kirkman
wes kirkman
14 years ago
kstineback
kstineback
14 years ago

i agree wes. but i think as a community we can work with SU and other developments here to deliver things like public art and retail that is pedestrian oriented to create more “eyes on the street”. Sometimes i think that part of the problem is that people avoid walking here, which only make the auto more of a powerful presence.

One Voice
One Voice
14 years ago

Sounds like there is a few years to work out any kinks in this plan, but it is a pretty great change to the area. So much potential in this corridor. Just hope OSKA doesn’t cheap out on the plan and make it look like a lot of the drek going up everywhere else in town(the GGLO building across from SCCC on B’way for one).

JoshMahar
14 years ago

I’m actually looking forward to the new building opening across from SCCC on Broadway. I think its really cool that its a joint project with the school and the various balconies on the Broadway side are much nicer than the usually tiny Juliette balconies on so many buildings. But the best part about this building is how it faces the park. There is a wonderful little plaza that will presumably have some shops and cafes where you can sit and watch basketball or dodgeball. I believe it will even have a few walk up units that open on to Nagle Place. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder no doubt.

kstineback
kstineback
14 years ago

josh i think he might be talking about our (CHH) gglo building at broadway/pine! the broadway crossing design might not be for everyone, but as far as affordable housing goes, i think it is pretty darn good. plus, that was going to be a surface parking lot around a drugstore, now the hood has 49 permanently affordable units there as well.

wes kirkman
wes kirkman
14 years ago

Kate, I mention the same things in my short discussion of building mass.
http://kirkmanor.blogspot.com/2009/06/building-mass.html