[LCIII]

"The proposed structure would be a 400’ residential tower over 1613 2nd Ave with 5 below grade and 4 levels of parking above level 1. The proposal would seek a maximum height through affordable housing incentives. The proposal is seeking development rights over the adjacent structure at 1601 2nd Ave. “Broadacres Building.” The development rights would allow for a 24’ cantilever of the proposed structure over the adjacent existing structure at approx. a height of 145’ above grade.
Owner to investigate two options to determine the development site and air rights over 1601 2nd Ave. – 1) Full development rights starting at grade for both lots of 1601 & 1613 2nd Ave. (“Option 1”) or 2) Investigate an air space condo unit above 1601 2nd Ave. (“Option 2”). This in effect would create an L-shaped lot vertically from grade at 1613 2nd Ave and extend over 1601 2nd to its south property line at Pine Street.
DPD considers Option 1 to be a more straight forward option to establish a development site for the proposal. Under Option 1, the 1601 and 1613 parcels would effectively be consolidated into one “lot” for zoning purposes. Option 2 could not be confirmed at this time. BW directed the project team to submit a proposal to DPD for an interpretation. The time for DPD to process an interpretation letter may take up to 8 weeks. It may run parallel with the MUP review and is subject to an appeal.
HEWITT explained possible land use code considerations such as determining the street frontage measurement which is used to determine “Maximum Tower Width” and “Parking Location within Structures.”"

 

[LCIII]

So glad they're finally doing something with that prime spot!

 

[Steve W]

Is this the 2 story Café D'Arte building on corner of 2nd and Stewart?

 

[JiminyCricket]

Above grade parking is a no-no anymore. Good luck with that Hewitt.

 

[testdrive]

If they have to go with option 2 it sure would make for an "interesting" look. If they go with option 1 does that mean demolition of the whole block?

 

[Steve W]

My understanding is above grade parking levels require some percent (maybe 20%) of floor is other uses (like work space units). The Café D'Arte building lot is small. So, seems like this would necessarily be a car-elevator type garage.

I'd rather this be limited to narrow tower rather than cantilevered over the historic Broadacres building. For one thing, it'd preserve a view corridor for the proposed 400' 2nd & Pine tower towards Pike Place Market and Bay.

 

[Ruffhauser]

From todays DJC.

http://www.djc.com/news/re/12068336.html

August 1, 2014

Wood Partners eyes 2nd & Stewart tower

By LYNN PORTER
Journal Staff Reporter

Wood Partners has approached the city of Seattle with a proposal for a 400-foot residential tower at 1613 Second Ave., near Pike Place Market.

In a document filed with the city, Seattle architecture firm Hewitt notes that one option is for the tower to cantilever over the 10-story Broadacres Building at 1601 Second Ave., which was once the home of Nordstrom Rack.

The document says the project could include parking on five below-grade and four above-grade levels, and indicates the developer may seek to build to the maximum height by using the city's affordable housing incentives.

Atlanta-based Wood Partners is listed as the applicant for the proposal.

An entity of Principal Global Investors owns the Ames Building/The MJA Building at 1613 Second Ave. and the Broadacres Building, which it bought from Alhadeff Properties Limited Partnership in 2007. Principal Global is an arm of The Principal Financial Group of Des Moines, Iowa.

Wood Partners could not be reached for comment.

Principal Global Investors has filed an application to nominate the Ames/MJA Building, which is on the site of the proposed 400-foot tower, for city landmark status. If the city's Landmarks Preservation Board denies the application, the 1914 building could be razed.

The board will consider the nomination at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Seattle Municipal Tower, Room 4060. Send written comments by Tuesday to Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, P.O. Box 94649, Seattle, WA 98124-4649.

The application prepared by NK Architects says an earlier application to landmark the building was filed in 2004, but the Landmarks board did not approve it. NK said the exterior was significantly altered in 2008.

Charles H. Bebb, a prominent Seattle architect in the early 20th century, designed the building. Bebb was a founding partner in two important Seattle architectural firms: Bebb & Mendel and Bebb & Gould.

Land use economist Matthew Gardner said 1613 Second Ave. is a very small site.

“Any time you look to develop a very tight site ... there's all manner of things that come into play,” he said. “I am not saying it can't be done. It certainly can, but it adds in another layer of complexity.”

However, he said the location is prime.

“You're really as close to the heart of downtown as you can be,” said Gardner, who is principal at Gardner Economics in Seattle.

Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue, a condo tower that opened in the area in recent years, has proved popular and a number of developers plan projects nearby.

“There's a lot of people that are looking very myopically at that area with the potential for kicking off projects in the next year or so,” Gardner said.

Equity Residential plans a 40-story apartment building at 204 Pine Street; Urban Visions has proposed a 39-story apartment project at Second and Pike; Continental Properties recently bought a site at Second and Virginia that comes with a master-use permit for a 400-foot residential tower; Columbia West Properties and Pineapple Hospitality have said they want to break ground in 2015 on a hotel at 1931 Second Ave; and Touchstone Corp. is gearing up to build an 11-story hotel and apartment building at First Avenue and Stewart Street.

Wood Partners acquires, develops, constructs and manages high-density and mixed-use communities. As of April, it owned more than 20,200 units in 16 markets, including Seattle.

Earlier this year, Wood Partners topped out Dimension by Alta, a 298-unit apartment building at Third and Cedar in Seattle, and the company is building a 281-unit apartment complex in the Pearl District of Portland, adjacent to the new Fields Park.


Principal Global Investors has nominated the Ames/MJA Building, which is on the site of the proposed 400-foot tower, for city landmark status.

 

[testdrive]

Ok, I am confused, since Wood Partners doesn't own the building do they own the land the building is on?

 

[mhays]

A large percentage of proposals are by companies that don't own the land. In these cases they typically have deals (called options) to buy the land if they choose to later.

Many developers don't want to buy land they only might build on. And nobody spends much money without having the land under control. Options are expensive, but they're far cheaper and less risky than the main alternatives.

 

[testdrive]

2nd Street will be pretty amazing if all these proposals happen. There is a small parking lot on the 1500 block next to Pabla Indian Cuisine, I wonder if there are plans for that lot.
I forgot there were those two rather large parking garages within a block of each other. When does it make economic sense that those get replaced with some kind of new development?

 

[Capitol Hill]

Above grade parking is a no-no anymore. Good luck with that Hewitt.

Premier on Pine has above ground parking, as does the Martin.

 

[mhays]

Projects that are subject to the old zoning (only have to have applied for MUP back then?) are allowed more above-grade parking than the current limit...three levels all partally hidden I think. But there are also variances.

 

[Bond James Bond]

Not another one?!?!?!?!?

Dammit I'm getting sick of all these new skyscraper proposals. Can't even keep track of 'em anymore.

:rant:

 

[mhays]

Yesterday I counted 27 proposed/underway condo towers at 440' or so, or much taller, in greater Downtown. That included three with two towers each.

 

[Steve W]

Overhead view

I thought this might help show how small a lot this site is, and why they want to take the airspace over neighboring Broadacres.

Note the Second and Pine tower would be located in place of surface parking lot at left side of the pic. Second and Pike lot is the other surface parking lot just visible beyond the Broadacres building and left of the 1521 tower at top of this pic. Pike Place Market/Elliott Bay is off-pic to right.

1613 2nd ave aug 6 by swyvernsting, on Flickr

 

[Ruffhauser]

From todays DJC.

http://www.djc.com/news/re/12068615.html

August 8, 2014

1613 Second Avenue not a city landmark
By JOURNAL STAFF

SEATTLE — The city Landmarks Preservation Board voted 10-1 Wednesday to deny nomination of the Ames Building at 1613 Second Ave. as a city landmark.

Developer Wood Partners has approached the city with a proposal for a 400-foot residential tower on the property located near Pike Place Market. One option is for the tower to cantilever over the 10-story Broadacres Building at 1601 Second Ave.

Wood doesn't now own the 1914 Ames Building, which is also known as The MJA Building. The Ames and Broadacres buildings are owned by an entity of Principal Global Investors.

Principal filed an application to nominate the Ames as a city landmark. The denial by the Landmarks board means the building can be razed.

 

[LCIII]

Progress

 

[Steve W]

Is the Broadacres building designated a landmark? Otherwise, why not tear down both?

 

[GatsbyGatz]

Sayonara!

 

[velciane]

Is the Broadacres building designated a landmark? Otherwise, why not tear down both?

I thought it was - based on our last conversation about the building.