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Preservation-free Pike/Belmont project takes turn in front of design review board

Screen Shot 2013-12-03 at 3.11.34 PMWednesday night, the East Design Review Board will take on a decidedly retro Pike/Pine project — big, bulky and without any of those confusing “preservation” elements that muck up criticisms of so many of its Pike, Pine and Union contemporaries.

601 E Pike
Intracorp is responsible for a roster of Seattle-area developments incredibly consistent in their uniformity of look, feel and business optimization. Wednesday, the developer will bring its plans for a new mixed-use building on the property where the auxiliary garage for the former E Pike Mercedes dealership stands today. The main dealership building across the street, you might recall, is slated to be transformed into this seven-story preservation-incentivized project in coming months.

Intracorp’s Pike at Belmont project is a smaller investment:

The applicant proposes a mixed-use building that provides quality housing and small-scale retail in a growing Capitol Hill neighborhood.

The proposed project is a 6-story building with 55-65 apartment units and approximately 2,600- 3,000 square feet of commercial space. 25 to 30 parking spaces are provided two levels of parking. There are also 16 long-term and one short-term bicycle spaces.

Screen Shot 2013-12-03 at 3.11.07 PMLike the Avalon Bay-developed project across Pike, 601 E Pike had been considered for a preservation-based development by Intracorp according to DPD permit filings. Instead, the developer is bringing forward a standard play in Pike/Pine.

Review Meeting: December 4, 8:00 PM
Seattle University
901 12th Ave
Admissions & Alumni Community Room
Review Phase: EDG–Early Design Guidance
Project Number: 3015370 permit status | notice
Planner: Shelley Bolser


View Larger Map
Here’s what Tiscareno Associates says about the “preferred scheme” it designed for the project:

Scheme C is the preferred scheme. It places the residential entry along E. Pike St. at the northeast corner and the retail space is stretches continuously to the corner. Along Belmont Ave. there is an exposed stair and the parking entrance. There is a clearly expressed ground floor level, middle level, and top floor. Large windows and bays are an integral part of the design, creating relationships with neighboring buildings. The rear of the site is set back to strengthen the relationship with the neighboring buildings. The circulation is very efficient, making the most of a small site.

Architect's rendering of view down E Pike

Architect’s rendering of view down E Pike

Screen Shot 2013-12-03 at 3.56.22 PM1315 E Jefferson
Also on the docket Wednesday is what could be the final review for another project on the smaller end of the scale. The Schack a+d/Revolve project is planned to replace the old Cafe Selam building with a four-story, mixed-use project:

The applicant’s development objective is to provide the highest and best use for the site by creating a high- density mixed-use development. The proposed project is a four-story building consisting of 32 residential units and 2,900 square feet of retail above a below-grade parking structure that will house 16 stalls. Pedestrian access to the retail and apartments will be from East Jefferson street while the below grade parking will be access from the alley. The proposed structure height is within the required 44’-0” height limit which includes the 4’ bonus for having a min floor-to-floor height of 13’-0” for ground level retail.

The project passed through the first phase of review in June.

Review Meeting: December 4, 6:30 PM
Seattle University
901 12th Ave
Admissions & Alumni Community Room
Review Phase: Recommendation past reviews
Project Number: 3014830 permit status | notice
Planner: Lindsay King

1-1-1-600x330REI building
Not on the slate this week but coming soon, the big project to preserve and redevelop the old REI building now home to The Stranger and Value Village isn’t quite as “preliminary” as the developers described when CHS reported on the plans this fall. The project is currently slated to come before the design review board to start the New Year on January 15th. Mark your calendars, Pike/Pine development fans.

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Biker365
Biker365
10 years ago

“incredibly consistent in their uniformity of look, feel and business optimization.”
So it’ll fit right in in the ever-encroaching “uniformity of look, feel and business optimization” that’s becoming the rest of the neighborhood. I mean, it fits right in with its eastern neighbor! You can hardly tell where one building will end and the new one begins!

Now *that’s* architecture!