Last week, we noticed an interesting item on the urbnlivn condo blog noting Belltown wine bar The Local Vine was signing a lease for the old Pizza Fusion location at 1412 12th Ave. Now we know why:
Yesterday, the news broke that a 25-story high-rise in Belltown, The McGuire, would be torn down just nine years after construction, due to “defects.” The $31-million apartment tower, at 210 Wall Street, had been clad in scaffolding for months, as the owners tried to deal with cracking and spalling of the concrete exterior, due to problems with reinforcement placement in the building’s frame.
Further investigation revealed that post-tensioned slabs–widely used in high-rises to help support and strengthen the concrete, and allow for thinner floors–contained cables that were corroding. (After it opened, The McGuire fairly quickly had troubles with water entering the building’s envelope, and then the wrong paint and grout had been used to protect the cables from water, as well.) The City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development told the owners to repair it or vacate by the end of 2010.
We’ll track down the TLV folks to get the full story and ask whether they plan to find a new Belltown home, too.
BelltownPeople.com did the leg work for us: TLV says they’re looking for a new Belltown home and that the Capitol Hill move was intended as an expansion, not an evacuation.
I believe TLV is in the building next door (on vine st.) to the troubled one, not the McGuire itself.
Although, I wouldn’t want to try and run a place next to a 25 story demolition project.
Finally a post about The Local Vine that doesn’t say, “The Local Vine, started by two Harvard MBAs”! I’m sure they’ve got great wine and food, but that marketing angle is really off-putting to me.
Local Vine is in the low-rise, connected structure…has retail and the Carpenter’s Union offices, parking above, and some cool townhouse style apartments on the roof with a garden. (Cool, except for the fact it will be demo’d).
I didn’t know it was started by two Harvard MBAs. Now, I think I have a reason to go.
Hewitt Architects designed McGuire Building and they are also involved in the Capitol Hill Light Rail Station. Let’s hope they are clear of any responsibility in the McGuire Building flaws as we don’t need a light rail station that fails to adhere to industry standards.
The owner confirmed on Belltown People that they are being booted out – because they are in the same building
I do wish them well but I love me some Poco Wine Room…
A friend of a friend is being evicted from the McGuire due to the condemnation, and she was told that the re-bar in the structure was rusting and crumbling, which means it probably wasn’t a structural issue, but a supplier/buyer issue.