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Broadway at Union’s Complete Automotive ‘under contract’ and ready for development

Thanks to a reader tip, CHS has learned of a multi-million dollar bidding process for yet another chunk of the Capitol Hill auto row past and a property we once feared would sit empty “for a long time.”

The former Complete Automotive building, the 19,000 square-foot 1920 showroom and auto garage that has stood empty at Broadway and Union as a back-up property for the Polyclinic, was awarded to the highest bidder in a fall 2012 sale process.

Capitol Hill Development Opportunity  –  1158 Broadway We are marketing a 16,424SF development site on behalf of The Polyclinic.


The property, located at 1158 Broadway (Broadway & E. Union), is zoned NC3-65, measures approximately 100 feet by 164 feet and is at the epicenter of development on Capitol Hill.

Thanks to the reader tip, we confirmed this week that the property is, indeed, under contract and on the move toward development. The winning bidder has not yet been disclosed. If you’re looking for the latest “comps,” developer Hunters Capital has set the rather exclusive market for Capitol Hill auto-row acquisitions lately with deals to buy these two buildings on E Pike and this building on E Pine — let’s just call it somewhere between $250 and $300 per square foot depending on the potential of the parcel.

The building in 2002 (Image: King County)

The 16,000 square feet of land at the intersection of Union and Broadway has been home to the one-story brick building for more than 90 years but has stood empty for the start of this decade as the Polyclinic continued to hold the property. In November 2010, CHS reported that the medical services company would likely hold onto the building and land even as its plans for a new building at 7th and Madison on First Hill moved forward.

The Polyclinic acquired the Complete Automotive building for $6.25 million in 2008 as a potential location to build an expanded facility in the area but those plans became a hedge as zoning changes at City Hall made development of large medical services facilities on First Hill even more rewarding. Last May, the Polyclinic opened its new 7th at Madison tower on First Hill. Changes rippled through the Polyclinic facilities in the area — including this two-block move of 180 employees from E Pike — as offices and clinic spaces were consolidated.

The same day City Council approved the legislation opening First Hill to massive medical development projects, it also approved the base of the Pike/Pike Conservation Overlay incentives that will likely be part of the Complete Automotive building’s future. Just up E Union, a 250-unit project that will incorporate two “character” structures finally received approval of its design and is moving toward construction. Meanwhile, across the street, a six-story, 79-unit building — most notable, thus far, for rumors of one of its potential commercial tenants — is moving into final construction phases.

In the past, the Polyclinic was considering a five-story medical building with significant underground parking for its corner of Broadway and Union. It is likely whatever new plans are eventually filed by the new owner will shoot higher to seven stories — but will also preserve a few elements of this piece of Capitol Hill’s past. Now we just need a plan for the Polyclinic’s stairway to nowhere across the street at Broadway and Harvard.

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calhoun
calhoun
11 years ago

This is a very attractive building and, whereas it’s likely to be redeveloped into a 6-7 story structure, I am hopeful that the ground floor will be maintained as is. It would be great if Hunters Capital is the new owner, as that business (with Mike Malone as the CEO) is very respectful of older structures in our neighborhood. We could trust them to preserve the best aspects of the building.

joanna
joanna
11 years ago

I agree the facade is one worth saving, and it would be an advantage to the developer to preserve it.

Wes
Wes
11 years ago

It’s just a 1 story box with little detail. Why is everything in seattle that’s shorter than 3 stories and built before 1965 get treated like sacred shrines? Personally I’m glad to see a lot of these relics of the automobile era disappear. All the automobile infrastructure is like a bunch of scars on American cities

nomoreapartments
11 years ago

This space would be a great as a farmers market similar to Essex Street Market Lower East Side NYC. Forget QFC!
http://www.essexstreetmarket.com/about.html

seattlebear
11 years ago

I was afraid this building was going to sit empty until the Polyclinic decided they wanted to do something. And even when they decided to do something it would be a terrible design that wouldn’t reflect the neighborhood.

seriouslycaphill
11 years ago

Amen, Wes. If we make everything a “landmark” in these earthquake death traps this city will never make any progress. If you want to live back in the 1920’s then move to a small little village in New England or something. This is a city. Things change. Acknowledge and move on.

JimS.
11 years ago

Wes,
To an extent I agree with you, but what’s the alternative? If a bldg. like this were torn down, what would go up in its place? Look at the new-design buildings that have gone up recently. Not many of them have any real spark in creative design. It it’s find to talk about tearing down some 60’s era bldg. if you have something more esthetically pleasing to replace it with. Haven’t seen any evidence of that.

seriouslycaphill
11 years ago

I think almost all of the new buildings built on the hill in the last 10 years look great. Much better than the old garbage they replaced. Brix looks way better than that dirty Safeway and Joule is a huge improvement over that god awful QFC. And Lyric, way better than the buildings that were there. I can’t really think of one building that isn’t a tremendous improvement. And there is a lot more room for improvement on the hill, for sure.

Wes
Wes
11 years ago

This building has lived it’s life and is no longer useful. Capitol Hill is easily Seattle’s most complete neighborhood, but it still has a lot of holes in its urban fabric. Parking lots, parking garages and other under utilized spaces are going to start disappearing at a faster pace. That’s the reality, I don’t understand all the people that act as if they are the last person to ever be born in or move to seattle. Seattle is growing. Lets find the most efficient way to accommodate this growth. Continued suburbanization is not the way, rebuilding already developed neighborhoods is. Honestly I think it’s time to chip into Seattle’s 70% sfh zoning and bring that number to about 55%.

lele99
11 years ago

Agreed with Wes and seriouslycaphill

These new developments are brightening dead spaces and have become filled with business that are mostly successful, provide jobs, housing and making Capital Hill an even more vibrant neighborhood to call home. I welcome the growth as long as it’s done responsibly. Outside of aPodments, I can’t think of any development hat has been a detriment to the area.

These changes may not be for everyone but as they say, you can’t please them all.

Wes
Wes
11 years ago

I think the apodments are needed too. A lot of rents are really expensive around Capitol Hill. The apodments will allow somebody who works at one of the restaurants on the hill to live close to work without a car instead of driving in from Renton, tukwila or south seattle. More rail transit will help this too. Anyways, why not make it possible for the service workers of Capitol Hill to actually live on the hill. If they have a low enough rent and don’t have to own a car, they too will be spending their money at restaurants, bars and clothing stores on th hill.

calhoun
calhoun
11 years ago

If you will please re-read my post, I said nothing about giving this building “landmark status” or not redeveloping it as a multistory structure. All I asked for was for the ground floor/façade to be preserved in some way…it would make a really nice space for the right kind of retail.

As for the ugly and soul-deadening apodments, don’t get me started…

lele99
11 years ago

Agreed we need affordable housing so ALL can live on the hill. However, apodments are not the answer to our affordable housing needs.

Wes
Wes
11 years ago

I read your post calhoun, and I disagree to me this facade is nothing special. There are many facades around the hill that should be saved, there’s some that I’m sad to have seen go. However this is just a 1 story building with no interesting detail work, it wouldn’t be worth the time and money to save it. The apodments are not the best option for affordable housing, up-zoning huge chunks of Seattle’s land and eliminating excess cost for developers is the best way. That will never happen with Seattle’s nimbies though, so developers of affordable housing are stuck trying to find loopholes in the system.

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[…] reported in February this year that a buyer was under contract to purchase the Broadway and Union property for development from Polyclinc after the health services giant was able to solve its space needs with its new […]