Post navigation

Prev: (04/03/11) | Next: (04/04/11)

Fence goes up, buildings coming down down at 230 Broadway project

Another multi-year construction project is ready to begin in the heart of Broadway. According to a letter posted at the site by the project developers, Monday is the start of demolition on the buildings — and the parking lot that used to host the weekly farmers market — that will be cleared away for the 230 Broadway development. That letter and details of the project that will raze a block of Broadway to create a 234-unit mixed-use development, below.


Good boxy or bad boxy? CHS coverage of 230 Broadway’s design reviews

According to the letter, developers expect the project to be completed in fall 2013. The letter also says there will be a public meeting to discuss the impact of the construction on those living and working in the area. That meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19th at 10 AM at the project’s office on 10th Ave E. Thanks to Andrea for the tip about the appearance of the fence and the letter. Though the posted letter notes the “Capital Hill Blog” was CC’d we have not yet received a physical copy.

Click for larger version

CHS reported in March that SRM Development was finalizing its permits to demolish the buildings along Broadway from Thomas to mid-block. The building that houses the Highline, the Subway sandwich shop, the Castle sex store, and the apartment building with American Apparel at ground floor will be sandwiched between the 230 Broadway work and the construction of the Broadway light rail station, scheduled to be completed by 2016.

Meanwhile, construction of the streetcar that will travel to and from Union Station up Broadway will begin in 2012 with a goal of being operational in 2013. The route is currently planned to end at Denny but an effort to find budget to extend the line to north Broadway was not off the table the last time we talked with SDOT planners.

The fence is also a reminder of a new world for the Broadway farmers market. Starting next month with the beginning of our market season on the Hill, the farmers market will move to the open square near Pine and Broadway on the Seattle Central Community College campus. We’ll have more details on the move as SCCC and the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance makes them available but we’re told that organizers expect room for as many vendors as ever and perhaps even more space depending on how things can be laid out.

When the 230 Broadway development is complete in 2013 2012, Noah’s Bagels and Bank of America will return to the block. Some like Septieme closed down while others like the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce have found new homes. In coming days, the Chamber’s former office in a 1901 house at the corner of Thomas and 10th will be demolished.

Subscribe and support CHS Contributors -- $1/$5/$10 per month

16 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Gingerlily
Gingerlily
12 years ago

Anyone know where the Capitol Hill Farmers Market will be relocated to?

Gingerlily
Gingerlily
12 years ago

So, Pine & Broadway on the SCCC campus. Perhaps a bit tight on space and difficult for sellers to access, though certainly more out in the open and perfect for students. I’m excited to pick up some fresh goodies!

Oh yeah, another boring condo…who are all these people with money to burn?

Therent
Therent
12 years ago

Renter…

Gingerlily
Gingerlily
12 years ago

Very astute; however, renting affords me the opportunity to leave when the market is less than desirable without defaulting on a bank loan. That, and a spot of green larger than a kitchen windowsill.

Eric
Eric
12 years ago

Not another boring condo, it is supposed to be a boring apartment complex.

Jon Morgan
Jon Morgan
12 years ago

is that they’re building 1.54 expensive (typically $40,000 each), underground parking spaces for every housing unit in this building. That not only inflates the prices of the housing units, it adds more traffic congestion and air pollution to our neighborhood. Which makes absolutely no sense for a building that’s within 1 block of the streetcar (2013) AND light rail (2016), as well as being very walkable and bikeable, full of Zipcars, and having pretty good bus service. It’s time for the city to start imposing parking maximums in light rail station areas. The MOST parking this building should have is 1 space per housing unit.

a survivor
a survivor
12 years ago

Jon,
I wonder if these big garages built in earthquake proof constuction standards buildings will be where all us us will be living when we become homeless after the big one hits Seattle?

Bathroom
Bathroom
12 years ago

A bathroom inflates the price of a housing unit too. Why do they include those?

Eric
Eric
12 years ago

It would be nice if, at least, each parking space has access to electricity to re-charge cars with.

funkifunkisockmunki
funkifunkisockmunki
12 years ago

I agree with your sentiment, but they might be required to use a lot of the parking for the employees and customers of the retail stuff? Otherwise people would whine about them hogging all the already-scarce street parking.

This stuff is always so lose-lose. If it’s a condo, the renters whine. (jealous?) If it’s low rent housing, someone whines it’s not affordable enough or that it will bring in riffraff. If there are shops, people whine about what type of shops. At any rate, the developers are building for what is selling, if you’re not the target market, too bad. As if every building and business could somehow please everyone. And here I am whining about all the whining. LOL.

It seems like this might be a better location for the Farmer’s Market since it’s more visible and trafficked, even if it’s cramped.

archie
archie
12 years ago

I agree, Jon. In addition to the effects of having so many more cars in the neighborhood, the most ignored part is how including so much parking essentially prices out people that don’t own a car, which is a significant chunk of the Capitol Hill community. Sad.

calhoun
12 years ago

Gingerlily, how do you know it’s going to be “boring?” I am hoping it will be as non-boring as the nearby Brix building, which is beautifully designed and has a great mix of vibrant, local retail businesses. Also, your assumption that people who buy a residence (of any kind) have “money to burn” is inaccurate….most people save for years in order to afford a home.

And the Farmer’s Market won’t have many student customers…it’s held on Sundays and most students do not live on Capitol Hill.

calhoun
12 years ago

Jon, I agree with you that a maximum of 1 parking space per living unit is reasonable in zones near light rail stations. But don’t you also agree that some underground parking is necessary? Without it, the units would be far less marketable from a business standpoint, and also this would vastly increase the parking crunch in the area, because most residents would be parking on the streets.

Yes, there will be some increased traffic in and out of this development, but it shouldn’t be a major change….a small price to pay for increased urban density (a good thing).

I doubt that employees or customers of the retail businesses will have access to the parking, but don’t know this for a fact.

Melissa R Ettman
Melissa R Ettman
12 years ago

There will be students because the new location is closer to where Seattle U Students are.

pragmatic
pragmatic
12 years ago

I’m actually surprised that they expect to be profitable after spending so much money on that additional underground level of parking. We’re talking probably about a half million dollars more than if they’d only built one spot per unit. I guess the market will have the final say on this one…

pragmatic
pragmatic
12 years ago

I did my math wrong. It’s probably more like a few million dollars. Wow.