Downtown building you'd most like to see replaced - Page 3

meku · May 21st, 2011, 07:56 PM

Very well said Bel Ludovic. I don't know why there isn't more outcry about the quality (both design and construction) of new apartment buildings built in Seattle. I'm afraid that most people just don't care and some actually like it - either way, Seattle is loosing big time.

Portland, outside Chicago/NYC, has probably the best designed new buildings in all US.

Personally, I like that Seattle Lightning building.

alexjonlin · May 21st, 2011, 08:57 PM

I agree about Occidental Park, I love its atmosphere on a weekday when people are having lunch there or whenever there are special events. With more density in the area, it can be pleasant all the time, not just during those times.

Capitol Hill · May 22nd, 2011, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meku

Very well said Bel Ludovic. I don't know why there isn't more outcry about the quality (both design and construction) of new apartment buildings built in Seattle. I'm afraid that most people just don't care and some actually like it - either way, Seattle is loosing big time.

Portland, outside Chicago/NYC, has probably the best designed new buildings in all US.

Personally, I like that Seattle Lightning building.

I'm sorry. It is losing. Loosing is a word I don't recognize. I'm not picking on you individually, it is just that this is the word I see misspelled frequently.

Okay, you may now let loose on me.

LCIII · June 26th, 2011, 05:55 PM

I'd love a massive structure right where that hideous white church is at the Seneca Street exit/enterance to the city. Such a terrible waste of downtown space.

Capitol Hill · June 27th, 2011, 02:10 AM

If you went back 2 or 3 generations, a religious organization would have been the CENTER of every center.

LCIII · June 27th, 2011, 02:34 AM

Well with all due respect I'm looking to the future. Besides, they've already saved the church by the Columbia tower. Where that white church is though is a prime location for impressive height and it's a first impression that is currently lost on dated and unimpressive architecture. I won't shed a single tear if(hopefully 'when') it's flattened and replaced.

sequoias · December 4th, 2011, 12:25 AM

Greyhound station replacing with a substation? Isn't there already one near Space Needle? That's even more uglier. You drive past a substation on a busy Denny St. :roll:

CityView Jim · December 4th, 2011, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sequoias

Greyhound station replacing with a substation? Isn't there already one near Space Needle? That's even more uglier. You drive past a substation on a busy Denny St. :roll:

Mentioned earlier - the power needs of SLU have increased dramatically and will continue to do so as more biotech and business/residents in general continue to make that area home.

TampaMike · December 4th, 2011, 05:43 AM

Many of the parking garages have to go. Especially the one on University and 3rd, just an eyesore for that whole area.

InlandEmpire · December 4th, 2011, 05:59 AM

I think we need to fill in the parking lots way before we worry about tearing down parking garages. They can be refaced like the Macy's parking garage at least.

Doomgoggles · December 5th, 2011, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TampaMike

Many of the parking garages have to go. Especially the one on University and 3rd, just an eyesore for that whole area.

If you tear down a parking garage downtown, be prepared to include at least as much parking in the garage of whatever you replace it with. Personally I'm fine with non-surface parking, as long as they minimize pedestrian impact (lol).

TampaMike · December 8th, 2011, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomgoggles

If you tear down a parking garage downtown, be prepared to include at least as much parking in the garage of whatever you replace it with. Personally I'm fine with non-surface parking, as long as they minimize pedestrian impact (lol).

Is that technically a bad thing though? I know Tampa and Seattle can't be compared on many levels, but between a parking garage and a development that much include the number of parking spaces it eliminates, I would take the latter. Especially if it means an additional 3 or 4 floors to it.

And to me, it really isn't the parking garage concept itself I have a problem with, it's just the lack of not trying to make it not look like a parking garage. Add some retail, disguise it up a little, just do something that doesn't make it say "Hey, I'm a parking garage".

CityView Jim · December 8th, 2011, 06:53 AM

Agreed. Good example is the Macy's garage. At street-level it's well concealed by attractive businesses (now). Just don't look up.

Doomgoggles · December 8th, 2011, 07:56 AM

Oh, yeah Tampa I didn't mean that I disagreed with including parking garages in new towers. I guess it looked that way.

I meant it as a statement against those who would prefer zero parking. That's just not realistic when you have a mixed-use or office tower.

Doomgoggles · December 8th, 2011, 08:18 AM

I have two more contributions. The first is from Jackson St. in Pioneer Square. This little eyesore is the low point (pun intended in the drag between First and Fifth. The whole half block could go, but I'd settle for just this building on the end.

Next up, also hailing from Jackson, is this gem from Little Saigon. I don't think I even need to defend my claim here:

Ruffhauser · December 8th, 2011, 08:33 PM

FWIW, the Adam Tailoring in the 1st picture is a really good tailor. Not so much on speaking English, but ........

SteveM · December 9th, 2011, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doomgoggles

I meant it as a statement against those who would prefer zero parking. That's just not realistic when you have a mixed-use or office tower.

I agree that it's not realistic for residential, but it doesn't seem crazy to have little to no parking for offices. Most office workers work during times when transit to downtown is probably easier than driving (and the cleaning/maintenance folks working nights probably can't afford to park downtown). Even for those who have to or choose to drive for some reason, there's still a heckuva lot of parking in downtown as a whole. So if it pencils out to tear down a parking garage and not replace it, I don't see why a developer shouldn't do it.

I'm not in the commercial real estate business, though, so if someone who is told me that leasing a downtown office tower without parking would be really hard, I'd change my tune in a second.

Seattlelife · December 9th, 2011, 08:08 AM

I don't know specific numbers myself but I am going to strongly agree with Doomgoggles on this. Parking is a must have for office towers. There may be some small or niche businesses that can hire a non car driving work force but for the majority I don't think its feasible. I know a lot of people who drive because they like to, not because they have to. These people make up a large part of our workforce whether pro transit users like it or not. I don't see this changing anytime soon either. I mean, even NYC has parking garages and it has one of the greatest transit systems on the planet! Like it or not parking is still vital imo, especially with commerce.

LCIII · December 9th, 2011, 04:24 PM

Agreed. An office tower without parking would be a nightmare. The only way it would survive is if the tenants made deals with neighboring parking garages. At the end of the day, majority of the buildings workers will need parking.

SteveM · December 9th, 2011, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seattlelife

I know a lot of people who drive because they like to, not because they have to.

Agreed. But I'm going on my experience working for a 50ish person startup that moved from Eastlake to Downtown. From what I could tell, the workforce went from ~75% driving to work to about 20% driving to work. It doesn't seem crazy to me to think that the 20% of people who drive could find parking in other parking garages.

But, like I said, it's really about what can be leased, not about whether people like to drive. Cynically, if the CEOs are among the 20% who drive, in-building parking is probably going to be a requirement.

June 27th, 2011, 02:10 AM	#45
Capitol Hill Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,386 Likes (Received): 156	If you went back 2 or 3 generations, a religious organization would have been the CENTER of every center. __________________ After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF

December 4th, 2011, 05:43 AM	#49
TampaMike Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 6,141 Likes (Received): 5	Many of the parking garages have to go. Especially the one on University and 3rd, just an eyesore for that whole area. __________________ Corporations Are People Too - Mitt Romney For the People that dress up like Corporations.

December 9th, 2011, 08:08 AM	#58
Seattlelife Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Seattle/Brooklyn Posts: 3,383 Likes (Received): 59	I don't know specific numbers myself but I am going to strongly agree with Doomgoggles on this. Parking is a must have for office towers. There may be some small or niche businesses that can hire a non car driving work force but for the majority I don't think its feasible. I know a lot of people who drive because they like to, not because they have to. These people make up a large part of our workforce whether pro transit users like it or not. I don't see this changing anytime soon either. I mean, even NYC has parking garages and it has one of the greatest transit systems on the planet! Like it or not parking is still vital imo, especially with commerce. __________________ Supersonics Belong in Seattle Sonicsgate, a must see! Just click and watch. http://www.sonicsgate.org/

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May 21st, 2011, 07:56 PM	#41
meku Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 982 Likes (Received): 15	Very well said Bel Ludovic. I don't know why there isn't more outcry about the quality (both design and construction) of new apartment buildings built in Seattle. I'm afraid that most people just don't care and some actually like it - either way, Seattle is loosing big time. Portland, outside Chicago/NYC, has probably the best designed new buildings in all US. Personally, I like that Seattle Lightning building.

May 21st, 2011, 08:57 PM	#42
alexjonlin Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,260 Likes (Received): 83	I agree about Occidental Park, I love its atmosphere on a weekday when people are having lunch there or whenever there are special events. With more density in the area, it can be pleasant all the time, not just during those times.

June 26th, 2011, 05:55 PM	#44
LCIII Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 2,862 Likes (Received): 59	I'd love a massive structure right where that hideous white church is at the Seneca Street exit/enterance to the city. Such a terrible waste of downtown space.

June 27th, 2011, 02:34 AM	#46
LCIII Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 2,862 Likes (Received): 59	Well with all due respect I'm looking to the future. Besides, they've already saved the church by the Columbia tower. Where that white church is though is a prime location for impressive height and it's a first impression that is currently lost on dated and unimpressive architecture. I won't shed a single tear if(hopefully 'when') it's flattened and replaced.

December 4th, 2011, 12:25 AM	#47
sequoias Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Midwest US Posts: 1,601 Likes (Received): 0	Greyhound station replacing with a substation? Isn't there already one near Space Needle? That's even more uglier. You drive past a substation on a busy Denny St. :roll:

December 4th, 2011, 05:59 AM	#50
InlandEmpire Mixologist Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 197 Likes (Received): 0	I think we need to fill in the parking lots way before we worry about tearing down parking garages. They can be refaced like the Macy's parking garage at least.

December 8th, 2011, 06:53 AM	#53
CityView Jim Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,954 Likes (Received): 62	Agreed. Good example is the Macy's garage. At street-level it's well concealed by attractive businesses (now). Just don't look up.

December 8th, 2011, 07:56 AM	#54
Doomgoggles Unregistered non-user Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Seattle/Kitsap Posts: 738 Likes (Received): 39	Oh, yeah Tampa I didn't mean that I disagreed with including parking garages in new towers. I guess it looked that way. I meant it as a statement against those who would prefer zero parking. That's just not realistic when you have a mixed-use or office tower.

December 8th, 2011, 08:18 AM	#55
Doomgoggles Unregistered non-user Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Seattle/Kitsap Posts: 738 Likes (Received): 39	I have two more contributions. The first is from Jackson St. in Pioneer Square. This little eyesore is the low point (pun intended in the drag between First and Fifth. The whole half block could go, but I'd settle for just this building on the end. Next up, also hailing from Jackson, is this gem from Little Saigon. I don't think I even need to defend my claim here:

December 8th, 2011, 08:33 PM	#56
Ruffhauser Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Belltown Posts: 1,335 Likes (Received): 211	FWIW, the Adam Tailoring in the 1st picture is a really good tailor. Not so much on speaking English, but ........

December 9th, 2011, 04:24 PM	#59
LCIII Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 2,862 Likes (Received): 59	Agreed. An office tower without parking would be a nightmare. The only way it would survive is if the tenants made deals with neighboring parking garages. At the end of the day, majority of the buildings workers will need parking.