Design Option 1 — the L shape, possibly coming soon to 10th Ave E
The next thrust of development pushing a wave of density out beyond the core of Broadway and Pike/Pine continues this week with two projects coming in front of the Capitol Hill Design Review Board.
On 10th Ave E, a project set to replace a large parking lot and pushing Broadway’s growth to the north will receive its first public scrutiny. Meanwhile, an assisted living facility that will add to Madison’s race to fill in with multi-story development from 23rd to downtown will begin its final steps with the design board.
Review Meeting: September 21, 6:30 pm
SU Alumni Relations and Admissions Building
824 12th Ave Meeting Room
Review Phase: EDG–Early Design Guidance
Project Number: 3012337 permit status | notice
Planner: Bruce Rips
It’s hard to not be intrigued by the 10th Ave E project. Architects Studio Meng Strazzara also helped create the Harvard & Highland luxury condo development that neighbors the parking lot and connects the area to the tony Harvard-Belmont district (home of this $11.2 million for-sale mansion). This new project from developers Continental Properties won’t, exactly, be cut from the same cloth. From the design review proposal document:
The owner’s aim is to create a market rate rental community that appears to a wide range of Seattle city dwellers. The development will be designed in context with the distinguished character of the surrounding neighborhood in architectural elements, building scale, and massing. We are committed to using quality, long-lasting material, and an aesthetic design that appeals to and blends with the neighborhood.
The building proposed is a 64,000 square foo, 76-unit, three-level wood frame over concrete. The design will include a subterranean level of parking. Accessed via Broadway E to limit traffic impact to busy 10th Ave, the parking level will include 87 parking stalls and will create a formal fountain plaza deck above.
Additionally, the project concept includes a buffer of 12-15 feet around the site for landscaping, and a rooftop terrace.
Proposed building summary:
- Building Area: 64,000 SF
- Unit: 76 Units
- Parking: 87 Parking Stalls
The project will also be the second active design process involving a development in a Capitol Hill lowrise-3 zone. For a preview of some of the issues that come up as neighbors face the expansion of higher-density projects, check out some of our coverage of the other LR-3 project underway near FedRep park.
This parking lot is doomed (Image: CHS)
The full design proposal document for the 10th Ave E project is below.
Meanwhile, things are moving forward on the project that will bring a 6-story assisted living facility developed by Aegis Living to 22nd and E Madison. The design proposal for the next phase with the design review board isn’t available online yet as the plan for the facility moves out of the “early design guidance” stage but you can check out some of our earlier coverage to get a look at what is coming next for that area of the Hill.
The process to create the new 6-story building with 103 living units and 1,400 square feet of retail has been notable for its lack of protest from people living nearby. Aegis has been extremely active with outreach and providing opportunities for neighbors to meet with planners to discuss the project. In fact, they’re holding a community meeting again this week the night before the design review session — it’s at the Elizabeth James House Community Room (109 23rd Avenue E) starting at 7:00p if you’d like to attend.
Design Proposal available at review meeting
Review Meeting: September 21, 8:00 pm
SU Alumni Relations and Admissions Building
824 12th Ave Meeting Room
Review Phase: Recommendation
Project Number: 3001064 permit status | notice
Planner: Lisa Rutzick
I was just in Vancouver BC. Comparing their development to these typical apartments in Seattle – zero-set back, cuttie-cutters, soul-less, no personality monsters is quite despicable. Seattle – city with NO architectural vision whatsoever. Continental Properties – your design sucks!
I was wondering if anyone at CHS was planning to do a follow up story about the meeting concerning the 10th Ave apartment project? I live nearby but cannot make it to the meeting. Thanks!
The board sounded like they’re recommending another Early Design Guidance meeting because the huge departures for facade length requested by the developer would not improve the project except from the point of view of profit or project resident convenience, and a Code-compliant massing was not presented. The board wants to see one. Public comment on the proposed massing was very negative. Possible tree preservation is something the board wants to explore. The developer’s proposal to place the parking access on Broadway was very unpopular and the board wants that revisited, with a preference for either Highland or 10th. The developer tried to justify the single large mass by praising the accompanying consolidation of the open space, but no one else seemed to buy the notion that consolidating all the open space into one private area rather than breaking it into smaller pieces that would provide visual relief all around the structure(s) is a good idea. Back to square 1.
Ah, thank you so much for the follow up, bzzap! Selfishly, I hope this project gets delayed as long as possible. I’ve lived in this area 4 years – 3 of which with heavy construction… serenity now!
The proposed massive apartment block at Highland & 10th is not only grossly out of scale with the neighborhood. Adding dozens of units with only one off-street parking space will also place huge new stress on an already overcrowded street parking situation.