The “preferred” option: “The new building engages both E. Denny Way and Broadway E. with retail spaces at street level along the pedestrian way,” the designers write. “It facilitates the pedestrian link between North and South Capitol Hill with an un-interrupted retail presence along the Broadway E. frontage.”
The Yeti Bar isn’t the only thing that has surfaced this week at Broadway and Denny. The developers of the mixed-used building have revealed the first early look at the project that will replace the structure home to Capitol Hill’s post office. Henbart and architects Studio Meng Strazzara will bring their design for the six-story, mixed-use building in front of the design review board Wednesday night.
CHS reported in August on the plans to move forward with the development following its 2012 purchase. A Henbart representative told CHS at the time that it was too early to say whether the US Postal Service would return to the corner after construction is completed in coming years. Meanwhile across Broadway, a handful of firms bidding to build the housing, commercial, and community space around Capitol Hill Station are readying their final proposals.
Unlike the station development, some of which will reach 85-feet high, the project planned to rise on the northwest corner of Broadway and Denny will be 65-feet tall, and will include 44 units, ground level retail and limited, four-stall surface parking accessed via the alley. There will be no underground parking for residents living across the street from one of the soon-to-be busiest public transportation hubs in the region.
| Review Meeting: | December 3, 6:30 pm |
| Seattle University | |
| 12th & Marion Campus | |
| Bannan Auditorium | |
| Review Phase: | EDG–Early Design Guidance |
| Project Number: | 3018402 permit status | notice |
| Planner: | Beth Hartwick |
Here’s how the developers describe their project:
You can see other examples of Capitol Hill projects from architects Studio Meng Strazzara here in the CHS archives.
The new corner development will join a block of new buildings surrounding Dick’s Drive-in including the Lexicon Harvard Ave “boutiquement” project and the Hollywood Lofts project under construction in the former Hollywood Video building.
Crosby Capitol Hill
We can learn a few things in the early design guidance packet for the new building dubbed Crosby Capitol Hill proposed for Bellevue Ave mid-block between Pike and Pine. One, developers can squeeze seven stories into 69 feet. Two, that giant project around the corner utilizing preservation bonuses to transform the once and future home of Bauhaus and more into a new, humongous mixed-use project? It’s called the Excelsior:
The massing of the building is informed by its use, materials, light, and views. The core and circulation are pushed to the North edge of the project against the blank wall of the Excelsior Development, therefore maximizing the floor plate for units, views, and light penetration. The building is defined by a heavy spine at the North side of the lot that houses the vertical circulation and acts as the backbone of the project. The spine creates a transition opportunity from the larger scale Excelsior to the smaller scale Louis Arms. The proposed building sits at the same height as the Excelsior and is set back from the Louis Arms in a gesture to its smaller scale.
According to developers, you live in this Venn diagram
The Excelsior Motorcycle and Bicycle Company, by the way, was the first documented tenant of the old Melrose building.
The old building making way for the Crosby? The two-story Garden Studios is a goner — slated for demolition. In its place will eventually rise seven stories (plus a penthouse level) and around 50 apartment units plus 2,400 square feet of retail. There will be no parking. That’s OK. The Excelsior will have space for more than 170 vehicles in its underground parking structure.
The project is designed by B+H Architects and is being developed by the owner of the Garden Studios, Daniel Klein.
| Review Meeting: | December 3, 8:00 pm |
| Seattle University | |
| 12th & Marion Campus | |
| Bannan Auditorium | |
| Review Phase: | EDG–Early Design Guidance |
| Project Number: | 3018252 permit status | notice |
| Planner: | Beth Hartwick |
It is a shame that this building is only 44 units across from the busiest transit hub in the region. Seattle really needs to upzone this area to create some real density
No kidding, no need for cars or parking, and no views being blocked, a huge missed opportunity to get more people on the streets around here…
They just replaced 1/2 the buildings on Broadway. What a wasted opportunity. There is a great view up there. The location would be perfect for people to work live and play but with the height restrictions and the requirements to keep the facades ugly we end up with overpriced small waste of space crap that suits the needs of no one. They should flatten to whole hill and start over.
I wonder how lng adicks will be able to hold out. And although most of us don’t use the Post Office that much, I hope they are able to remain in the neighborhood.
Dick’s is now valuable as open space — not greenspace, but daylighting for everything around it. I wonder what it would take to grow vines up the blank walls.
I could get behind this building if they put some parking in the damn thing. They shouldn’t go a 1 for 1 by any means, but it’s just stupid to think that the entire world can get along without a car.
“Most” people don’t use the Post Office? Probably true these days, but all those people with a P.O. box there do and I always end up in a long line there if I need more services. That tells me the Post Office is needed somewhere nearby.
This should be 30 floors high with zero parking and post office on the ground/sub floors. What a wasted opportunity to pack people into what could be an affordable opportunity to live in at a major transit hub.
If you have a car and the building doesn’t offer parking then don’t live there. Rather choose one that does and don’t force your need to park on others.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to maximize this space and its not being taken advantage of, which is sad.
I agree. Why add the expense of adding parking, it just makes housing more expensive for everyone else. There are plenty of buildings nearby with parking that people can choose to live. Many of them even rent parking spaces to non-residents.
“If you have a car and the building doesn’t offer parking then don’t live there. ”
And if you can’t afford to live in Capitol Hill, don’t live there.
Being exclusionary is fun!
Not exclusionary at all. I own a car and always will. I’d never be stupid enough to try and live somewhere that doesn’t offer parking. It’s commonsense.
Not everyone actually has that much of a choice.
First of all, there actually aren’t that many buildings near broadway that offer parking. Many of the parking spaces I do see for rent cost more than some of the apartments in the area.
If there are no apartments available in a building with parking at a time you need to move, what should you do? How about disabled people who rely on their car for transportation and get assigned a building? You realize that for every building built without parking, that is fewer street spaces available in general? It will only get worse when they open the transit center, also without parking.
I don’t believe this is assigned housing, is it? As for disabled who drive? You’re really grasping at straws. We have accessibility services for those who are disabled.
Where are you pricing parking that you see spaces rent for as much as an actual apartment? I manage a few apartments so I’m genuinely curious.
Why do you think because some feel entitled to parking that others in the building should offset the cost to build it into their plan? If there is 1 building on the hill that shouldn’t have parking, this and those to come around it are the ones.
Everything about this comment by JK is so inaccurate that it made me laugh out loud and choke on my soda. And nearly every building that is built has parking in it with a few exceptions. Lyric and Joule have more than enough parking. The only way we will create a sustainable future is to start making it inconvenient and expensive to drive. It might not be fair, but none of it will really matter once the polar ice caps flood most of our coastal cities anyway, which is projected to happen within the next century. So get out of your car and walk or move to Bellevue.
If sustainability is the goal–a nice goal, mind you–there’s almost no way to justify any new development as it’s unlikely that the environmental cost of tearing down an old structure and building a new one–particularly a high-density one–will ever be recouped before your doom-filled future comes to fruition.
As for “entitled to parking,” ask the commercial places–or any other business on Capitol Hill–if they want to rely exclusively on foot traffic and bicyclists for their business.
Anyway, I think reasonable people can say this is a likely location for non-car owners, but the continual “eliminate all cars from the Hill” rhetoric is tiresome and selfish. On the one hand, you have people bemoaning a theater closing down; would it be shutting down if there was a place to park your car for those who might want to see a film and don’t happen to live in the area?
I am replying to my own comment since it won’t allow me to reply to others for some reason.
“I don’t believe this is assigned housing, is it?”
No, but so what? Do you honestly think that the parking issue isn’t something that affects more than a single building? My point was about the fact that there are several subsidized housing buildings on Cap hill and along Broadway. You really don’t get much of an option. They say, we have an opening in this building, either you accept it, or move back to the bottom of the list and wait a few more years.
“As for disabled who drive? You’re really grasping at straws.”
Really? I am? I happen to know of at least 6 disabled people with cars in just 1 block, and have seen at least 6 other cars regularly. Every one has trouble finding parking, especially close enough to where they live that they can walk home, and evening and weekends. It is to the point that I won’t even move my car from Friday evening to Monday morning because I will never be able to find parking for it.
“We have accessibility services for those who are disabled.”
Only sort of. You can request a van, if you qualify. Some only help seniors, others require you actually be on Social security disability, not supplemental security income. Though with all, you tell them when you have to be someplace, and they come around and pick you up, sometimes hours in advance if you are near the top of the list of passengers to pick up, then they drop people off, though sometimes they will do that on the way too. Then after your appointment, you call and wait for the next available one, which again can be hours. Yes, this is obviously so much better than having a car if you need it.
“Where are you pricing parking that you see spaces rent for as much as an actual apartment?” Not long ago there was one on Harrison for $800/ month. And one on 11th for $1000 a month because it was a secured garage. I exaggerate slightly about the more than rent, only because most rent isn’t that cheap, but still.
“Why do you think because some feel entitled to parking that others in the building should offset the cost to build it into their plan?”
since every building I have seen that has parking charges ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT, I really do not buy that it affects others that much. As for the increased building cost, that is also debatable. I know architects. They have admitted that if they weren’t putting in parking, they just use the money that would have been used for that to add fancier things inside the building that aren’t needed. I would like to note that all the cost estimates I found online were from very biased sources, and quoting at a 1/1 ratio, which few people even want.
“If there is 1 building on the hill that shouldn’t have parking, this and those to come around it are the ones.”
I’m rather curious why this one is so important to not have parking.
As for “iluvcaphill”
“And nearly every building that is built has parking in it with a few exceptions.”
Actually you listed the exceptions. Those are the ones with parking. Most others do not. And they removed half the parking from Broadway, and chunks of it along nearby streets. There are fewer parkign spaces for residents here than there were 4 years ago, and far more residents than there was 4 years ago.
“The only way we will create a sustainable future is to start making it inconvenient and expensive to drive.” Ok, if you are willing to come and drive me, and all the other disabled people in my building everywhere we need to go, sure, I’d love to get rid of my car. Trust me, this is not about loving cars, this is about not having other options. Not everyone is ABLE to walk or bike everywhere. The mass transit does not get many of us within walking distance of most doctors offices, some hospitals, VA, SSA office, or DSHS office. The shuttles they have are rather restrictive in their requirements to qualify, and take hours to get you to and from your destination (see my comment at the beginning). Most disabled people are also on a fixed income, so things like taxis or flexcars are also out. Believe it or not, it is actually cheaper to own a car if it is paid off, you rarely drive, and have low insurance premiums.
You should use uber or lyft. It’s way cheaper than paying for a car, gas, maintenance, insurance and parking. Owning a car is not affordable anymore for most people in a city. Times have changed. However, if it is cheaper (and faster because you don’t have to walk to your parking spot or park your car once you get to your destination) to have a chauffeur drive you where you want to go it doesn’t make sense to complain or to force people who are struggling to pay for rent to also subsidize someone else’s parking. If you have a beautiful amazing car that you spend your weekends fixing up or if you really, really enjoy driving that’s great but maybe consider living somewhere more car friendly. If you really love to ski maybe consider not moving to Miami, if you love to drive then maybe consider not living across the street from one of the busiest pedestrian transit hubs north of San Francisco.
Still beating the same ol’ drum, Timmy? Are you not aware that there is a huge amount of new housing going in across the street at the light rail station? And what makes you think that the apartments in a 30-story skyscraper would be “affordable”?
Yes, I’d rather we build up rather than out. If we don’t build up along cores we are left building out. That means sprawl and takes away from the advantages of urban density.
Yes, I’m aware there will be many new residences along the new transit center but will the same o’l block-to-block cubes wasting all the space above.
Supply and demand dictate prices. You build stubby buildings you limit supply thus increasing demand and prices. We need to over build rather for the future than under build and try and keep up.
While I don’t think too many people will miss the architectural value of the current Post Office (bleh), I do have two concerns:
1) As Ebe said, I wish so much that there were more than just 44 units here. That’s at most, what, 100 people living in this building right next to the new light rail station? With the demand for housing in Capitol Hill surging, more units would certainly be nice.
2) I do hope the USPS is able to open a new Post Office in this building, or at least somwhere in the immediate vacinity. Otherwise, the closest option is the one downtown at 3rd and Union, and it is already a NIGHTMARE.
Seriously get over the whole parking thing. Only like 30% of people in the neighborhood have cars, that number will go down once the light rail and streetcar open. Also once all these newcomers realize owning a car in Seattle is more of an inconvenience than not owning one.
Wrong… like only 1% of people on Capitol Hill have a car, why even have a street?
Sounds great–no more stoplights, no more waiting! Would greatly increase walking efficiency and fun.
if that were true then it would be easy to find parking anytime.
I’m curious where you are getting your number from. Though I will also point out that 30% is still a lot. Most buildings only have parking along one street. So, lets assume you can fit 6 cars along that street. I have seen mostly 35-45 units per building, so we will say 40. Of those 40 units, only 30% have cars. That is 12. So we already have 2 cars for every parking spot. Then you add in the people who work, shop, eat, and go clubbing in the area, and the number skyrockets.
A few things you need to remember, too. not everyone who lives in the area is a young, fit person who works within walking/biking distance or has no problem parking 6 blocks away.
The post office has at least one station per zip code, whether operated by the USPS or contracted. So there will be a customer service station somewhere in the 98102 zip area. It doesn’t have to be on Broadway, but there are a lot of empty spaces that would make a lot of sense.
That’s not true. They just closed the 23rd and Union station that served 98122 and moved their PO Boxes into the Broadway station.
That’s not entirely correct. The 23rd and Union station wasn’t shuttered altogether, but instead moved across the parking lot into a smaller space, which lacks P.O. boxes.
It is unfortunate for those of us who prefer separating our residence from our mailing address — but hill denizens can still get a private box at Post Options on 12th or the UPS store above QFC, among others.
People really don’t get transportation needs in that Broadway neighborhood. For one thing, some people who have mobility difficulties DO drive and DO need their cars to get places; Access transit isn’t always as reliable as having your own car OR Metro. There’s only one grocery store directly on Broadway, QFC there between Republican and Harrison; it’s a shame the Safeway got chased off Broadway for another bloody apartment/condo building. And why is the Postal Service closing all these neighborhood post offices anyway; they’ve already dumped the one at 23rd and Union. Where are these folks who need to get to their PO boxes expeditiously supposed to go anyway?
Gotta laugh. My landlord has posted rental of extra parking spaces in our severely underused lot…$75 a month, just two blocks from Broadway. No takers in 9 months.
So I just don’t see why theres a huge bitch-n-moan going on about parking.
I’m curious about it’s location.
I would happily point it out to people looking for parking cheaper than what is being offered around here. I do however suspect that it is either more than 2 blocks from Broadway, or it is near a part of Broadway that is not where the parking issues are. Broadway goes all the way from Roy down to Yestler.
The current post office building doesn’t have any parking. How do people even get there? It’s discrimination.
@JK:
You’re right that the various van services (Access, contracted private vans, etc) are usually quite cumbersome to use, although they are better than nothing.
But there is an alternative that a lot of people are not aware of, for those 60 and older….it’s the Volunteer Transportation Program at Senior Services (a private nonprofit). I am a volunteer driver with this program, and we take people to medical and dental appointments…..and do so on a 1:1 basis, so we are very efficient. We even take people in wheelchairs, provided they can transfer from the chair into a car. The suggested fee is $6 per ride, but it’s voluntary. The phone number to register is 206-448-5740.
Also, there is a companion program (also part of Senior Services) called the Hyde Shuttle, and they will take people anywhere (super market etc). It is a van service, but they are reasonably efficient too because each van only covers a certain neighborhood.
Thank you for the information. I however was speaking specifically about the people under the age of 60 who are disabled, of which there are many in the area because of the number of assisted housing buildings.
This short sighted trend to build all this housing and retail without parking is absurd, ignorant, and rude to the already congested community. Knock it off developers, and quit creating grid lock in our communities.
[…] Crosby went through a mostly uneventful early design guidance session in December. But back then, nobody had seen the logo […]
[…] project went through its first “early design guidance” review with the board last winter. Public comment at the review seems to have attracted a young urbanist or two — it included […]