Denny Triangle Projects

[mhays]

But if I understand correctly, it's mostly a legislative issue, as the funding would be through hotel/motel taxes, in a category theoretically already defined for this purpose but borrowed for another use. Forgetting all the specifics. No public tax vote.

[cameronrex]

I'd love to see the hole that is Convention Place get covered but convention centers are generally so ugly and unfriendly at street level. Mostly by logistic necessity. I read a couple of years ago that few moderately sized cities (we are not LA or Vegas) see a good return for their investment in these things.

[Matt the Engineer]

I will say that our existing convention center is one of the better ones I've seen at the street level. They put plenty of retail on the street, didn't break the grid, built over a freeway (!), and integrated into the Freeway Park.

If they're that careful about urban design for the extension, I'd be happy to have it.

[Rogue Linguist]

I think Seattle's technically more populous than Las Vegas, isn't it?

[mhays]

Seattle is considered more desirable than most cities for conventions. Attendance tends to be higher than usual for organizations that come here. Also, we successfully target higher-income professions like medicine. So I'd be optimistic.

[BoulderGrad]

Originally Posted by Rogue Linguist

I think Seattle's technically more populous than Las Vegas, isn't it?

if by "technically" you mean every conceivable measure of a city's population.

City proper: Check
MSA: Check
CSA: Check

[alexjonlin]

Yeah if the urban design of the convention center's expansion is anywhere close to what we already have right now, our convention center will be miles ahead of most other cities'. It's ridiculous that most places build them but then make them completely turn their backs to the street. It seems like that is missing the whole point of building a convention center: to bring more people, business, and money to your city. On the other hand our convention center encourages people to get out and explore Downtown.

[LCIII]

so as it stands now, 811 Stewart by the numbers:

$600 million to $800 million project
Two 45- to 50-story towers and a podium
155,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space
Two 25,000-square-foot ballrooms
13,000-square-foot ballroom
126 meeting rooms
1,200 hotel rooms
600 extended-stay apartments
350,000 square feet of office space
20,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space
1,400 parking spaces on multiple levels

[LCIII]

Originally Posted by alexjonlin

Yeah if the urban design of the convention center's expansion is anywhere close to what we already have right now, our convention center will be miles ahead of most other cities'. It's ridiculous that most places build them but then make them completely turn their backs to the street. It seems like that is missing the whole point of building a convention center: to bring more people, business, and money to your city. On the other hand our convention center encourages people to get out and explore Downtown.

I saw a rendering once in an old issue of SEATTLE BUSINESS that actually looked quite handsome. Im pretty sure it was still conceptual but if it indicated where they hoped to go at all then it was definitely a win.

[mSeattle]

Originally Posted by Doomgoggles

I'm sorry, but...I have to put this here. Edison is not worthy of any honor.

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/tesla

I'm posting here because I like the stuff about Tesla and it's a cooler name for stuff in a district trumpeting innovation.

From: http://www.djc.com/news/ae/12045658.html?cgi=yes

October 2, 2012
$1.3M raised online to restore Tesla lab

SHOREHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Internet “crowdfunding” has raised $1.3 million to restore a New York laboratory once used by Nikola Tesla.

The visionary scientist was a rival of Thomas Edison. He imagined a world of free electricity.

[Ruffhauser]

From todays DJC

http://www.djc.com/news/re/12047026.html

November 8, 2012

New complex houses church, 50 apartments
By JOURNAL STAFF

Gethsemane Lutheran Church has dedicated its new church complex at Ninth Avenue and Stewart Street in Seattle.

The seven-story, 64,135-square-foot building was completed this fall. It houses church functions, social services and 50 units of affordable apartments.

Gethsemane developed the $20 million building in partnership with Compass Housing Alliance. Compass owns the housing, and the church owns the rest.

Jim Olson of Olson Kundig Architects is the architect and design architect for Gethsemane. SMR Architects is the executive architect and design architect for the housing, called Dekko Place, and for the social services space.

The project was built by Rafn Construction. Keller CMS provided project management.

Other team members are: Coughlin Porter Lundeen (civil and structural engineer); The Berger Partnership (landscape architect); Sider+Byers (mechanical engineer); Cierra Electrical Group (electrical engineer); Candela (lighting design); Olson Kundig Architects (interior design); SMR Architects (specifications); and Peter David Studio (chapel art glass).

[mSeattle]

When did the Greyhound site get torn down? Just saw a wooden fence around the lot. Is a project actually planned for there?

[meku]

Yes, a substation for SLU. Has anyone seen the design ? I remember some officials saying it will be neatly disguised.Anyways, whatever they build I suspect we're going to end up with a similar, block-long deadzone.

[LCIII]

It's not the Denny Triangle...

[bgwah]

Originally Posted by meku

Yes, a substation for SLU. Has anyone seen the design ? I remember some officials saying it will be neatly disguised.Anyways, whatever they build I suspect we're going to end up with a similar, block-long deadzone.

Can't these be underground? How do they do it in Manhattan?

[BoulderGrad]

Originally Posted by bgwah

Can't these be underground? How do they do it in Manhattan?

This:
http://goo.gl/maps/Bjoav

[RMacherat]

An other possible dumb .... are there two Greyhound bus sites? One getting the substation and the other a hotel?

[BoulderGrad]

Originally Posted by RMacherat

An other possible dumb .... are there two Greyhound bus sites? One getting the substation and the other a hotel?

There's the greyhound Station, and the greyhound maintenance site. The station is the hotel/office proposal on 8th/stewart-ish. The maintenance building on Denny is the substation.

[geoffloftus]

Originally Posted by Ruffhauser

The article, from todays DJC.

http://www.djc.com/news/ae/12045289.html

September 24, 2012

Boston-based GID to build 39-story apartment tower near Amazon HQ
By LYNN PORTER
Journal Staff Reporter

Next spring, GID of Boston plans to start building a 39-story, 355-unit apartment tower in Seattle's Denny Triangle near Amazon.com's planned new campus.

Blaine Weber, a senior principal with the project architect Weber Thompson of Seattle, said the tower at 2030 Eighth Ave. is expected to open in 2015.

It was planned as condos by Cascadia Holdings LLC, a group of local businessmen that own the site.

Weber Thompson designed that project, and then retooled it as apartments. The firm also is the interior designer and landscape architect.

The engineers are Magnusson Klemencic Associates, structural; KPFF, civil; and Rushing, MEP. Morrison Hershfield is the envelope specialist. A contractor has been selected, but not announced.

Weber said the building will be almost across the street from Amazon's planned 3 million-square-foot campus.

He said the apartments will be larger than many constructed lately in downtown Seattle or that are in the pipeline — units generally geared toward Generation Y. “This is more of an upscale project.”

The complex will have about 250 parking stalls on five levels underground and four above ground, where there will also be work studios.

It will have an expansive rooftop amenity space with a garden terrace, owners' lounge, workout facility and meeting rooms.

Weber said downtown technology workers and empty nesters will be among those targeted as renters.

With the wave of apartment construction that has hit Seattle in recent years, some analysts have predicted a bubble.

Weber said many of the projects are designed to rent at more affordable prices, but “the speculation is that there will be unmet demand for those larger units with more generous space and amenities.” He said he expects growing demand from people who want a simpler life downtown. “I predict we will have trouble keeping up with the demand for good rental housing in downtown Seattle,” he said.

Patrick Foley, a principal with Lake Union Partners Seattle, said GID has the development site under contract from Cascadia. Lake Union is a for-fee developer hired by Cascadia to get the project entitled.

Cascadia is made up of Evan McMullen, Ian Eisenberg and Shawn Dougherty.

Foley said the businessmen bought the property about 10 years ago, “and it's time to get a return on their investment.”

The site is 15,400 square feet and has an old auto showroom on it. The building was nominated for city landmark status, but was not deemed a landmark, Foley said.

He said he doesn't know the sale price for the site.

The General Investment & Development Companies (GID) are diversified investment companies, according to the company website.

Over its 52-year history, GID has developed and acquired real estate, including homes, resort condos, apartments, suburban office properties, research and development properties, flex industrial parks, limited-service hotels and historic commercial property.

GID could not be reached for comment late Friday.

I noticed yesterday that there is a construction fence around that site (or at least around the old auto showroom building) and a little bulldozer is sitting in the vicinity. Is work starting on this project?

[LCIII]

I saw that too.