Guess who sold ENSO’s last unit?

The Stroupe Group is very pleased to announce that ENSO is now 100% sold, and we were the ones who just sold the last unit.  In addition, we sold twice as many ENSO homes as other outside agent, including this lovely two-story unit you see here!  

Thank you very much to all our ENSO buyers!  We also want to mention the high level of professional service we received from ENSO’s sales associates, Emily, Javila and Angela.  Our deepest thanks to all of you!

Built in 2009, ENSO was developed by Vulcan Real Estate and is comprised of a 19-story residential tower and adjoining 16 floor commercial building.  Callison Architiects and Interior Designers  created a truly spectacular environment by marrying high-end touches with green living.  The ENSO is LEED Gold Certified.

The ENSO is located on the edge of the Denny Triangle at 820 Blanchard Street, well-positioned between the South Lake Union and Downtown neighborhoods.  With the meteoric rise of businesses, retail and restaurants in the South Lake Union area, plus the conveniences of Downtown nearby, ENSO is situated among the best of all worlds.  It is also steps away from the South Lake Union Streetcar line, and a short walk from Lake Union Park.  

There are plenty of wonderful condominium homes on the Seattle market, and we’re in the know about all of them.  Let us work on a home for you!  Call us at 206.910.5000, or drop a line to urgent@stroupe.com

One of Belltown’s Finest Restaurants Relocating to SLU

If you’re a downtown resident, then you may have already heard about plans the Flying Fish restaurant has made in regards to moving to South Lake Union.  If you’re not from the area, The Flying Fish is probably one of Belltown’s last remaining fine dining restaurants.  In a recent article in the Seattle Times, chef Chris Keff explains her motivation to seek a new lease elsewhere.

That’s a far cry from what’s been happening in Belltown, Keff insists, where the bar scene has overtaken the dining scene and movement and closures continue unabated. (Recent deaths include Belltown Bistro and Cucina De-Ra, and several high-profile restaurant spaces remain on the market.) In Belltown, Keff says, “You’ve got a lot of small landlords who never get together to have any say in what happens around them. And before you know it, things have gone to hell”.

With Enso doing as well as it has, and with every visit to SLU seeming to always have a new discovery, the Flying Fish is expected to thrive at the modern built location.

Although South Lake Union has yet to fully develop, the neighborhood is certainly more than it used to be just a couple of years ago.  Although it’s still very quite at night, it shouldn’t be more than a few years away before SLU opens the first plant/lamp shop.  In the meantime, the Butabi brothers are planning on meeting with Mr. Zadir about opening only the coolest club in Belltown once the Flying Fish relocates to the Westlake/Terry building sometime around May.

No Doubt ENSO Buyers Will Walk Away VERY Happy!

The brokers open was certainly shoulder to shoulder last night.  Sea Star even seemed to run out of sushi early, and everybody got a pair of free slippers.  So far, everyone seems to be impressed, and Matt points out some staggering numbers when it comes to pricing.  Current buyers are being contacted today and tomorrow to discuss discounted pricing that was mailed to them last month.  There’s really not much we can say that Matt or Ben hasn’t said already.

We do feel it’s important to give credit where credit is due, and that is to Vulcan for taking aggressive action in adjusting to the market.  We’re also happy that they’ve allowed us to come in and take pictures since it’s been difficult to do with Vulcan properties in the past.

The bottom line is that ENSO is (as if it hasn’t been said already) priced to sell.  Everybody agrees that the finishes are very nice, and the location is across the street from the already well known booming South Lake Union neighborhood.

We did head back today to snap a few shots of the 2-story loft where Williams Marketing agents will be fortunate enough to set up as their office.

Amenities are limited, and HOA dues are still TBD.  But what ENSO does have is also very nice.  Buyers are looking at one of the larger club houses with an outstanding outdoor patio equipped with B&W outdoor speakers.  The fitness room is also not only well equipped, but incredibly spacious.

Here are some more photos we took of some 12th floor units, and one of the top floor penthouses.

If you would like to arrange a showing for any of these units, contact us to set up a time at your earliest convenience.

Enso Buyers Receiving Notice of Price Reductions

Buyers who have purchased at ENSO in 2007/09 should have received a letter today notifying them that the purchase price will be lowered.  Price reductions will be handled on a case-by-case basis rather than a percentage across the board.  We understand that buyers will be contacted by mid-June to discuss how much of a reduction they will benefit from and will vary based on floor, view, etc.

And here is a copy of the letter:

Yesterday’s Rollin Street Flats Open House

Rollin Street Flats hosted their agent open house and new construction preview yesterday, and they were kind enough to invest a $25 gift card to Whole Foods for all those who attended. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take any photos, so there’s not much to show you to form an opinion of your own.  But, if you’re looking for a high-end (expensive) loft with exposed concrete and ductwork in a booming location, Rollin Street may be a place to check out.  At the same time, this may not be the place for you if a view is a necessity.

Here’s a quick look at all the construction and activity happening in the neighborhood which was once fast asleep.

LEED-Certified Condos Yeild Higher Return

The new generation of buyers are demanding green built features when shopping for their first home, even though it can cost them up to 25% more. Builders are now being forced to make the additional up front investment in construction costs (averaging 2%), but Wikipedia states that they will eventually yield over 10 times that amount over the life cycle of the building. Additionally, developers receive additional incentives from state/local government that help boost press and public interest. Studies also show that LEED-certified buildings average $11.24 more per square foot, and have a 3.8% higher occupancy than non-LEED built homes.

So what is LEED-Certified?

Developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council of Washington D.C. (a nonprofit coalition of building industry leaders), The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)™ uses a rating system which offers 4 levels of certification — Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Each certification is designed to represent an “environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy place to live” by measuring building sustainability.

Each level is measured by points in five design categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. The higher the level, the higher the expenditure. However, LEED-certified buildings:

• Lower operating costs and increased asset value.
• Reduce waste sent to landfills.
• Conserve energy and water.
• Healthier and safer for occupants.
• Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
• Qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives in hundreds of cities.
• Demonstrate an owner’s commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

Here’s a look at what downtown area projects have been, or are striving to be LEED-certified:

2200 Westlake
5th and Madison
AVA
ENSO
ESCALA
Fifteen Twenty-One
Lumen
Mosler Lofts
Olive 8
Veer Lofts

It is surprising that many of the new construction projects haven’t applied for any level of LEED-certification considering that it’s proven to increase sale prices and occupancy. At the same time, an up front investment of 2% for a builder can be quite a bit.

Green Home Checklist
Green Homes 101

While reports on the Internet support that buyers will pay more for a LEED-certified home, and builders will yield higher profits, I’ve had experience where buyers are actually turned off by the idea of having recycled materials integrated into their home’s interior.  Buyer’s also seem to prefer to get more square feet for their dollar rather than a smaller green built home.  What would you do if you could get a new construction 2 bedroom condo for the same price as LEED-certified 1 bedroom?

Amazon.com: 11 Buildings Totaling up to 1.6 Million Sq. Ft. of New Office and Street-Level Retail Space in SLU

This is great news for those who already have, or plan to purchase a new home in the South Lake Union neighborhood.

Be sure to check out the following condos if you’re thinking about buying.

Enso 135 luxury condominiums that are part of our 2201 Westlake mixed-use project on the corner of Westlake Avenue N. and Denny Way, scheduled to open in spring 2009
Veer Lofts 99 artistic lofts featuring open, flexible floorplans on 9th Avenue and Harrison Street, scheduled to open in summer-2008
Rollin Street 208 SoHo-style flats on the northeast corner of Denny Way and Westlake Avenue N., expected to open in spring 2009

ENSO – 820 Blanchard St., Seattle, WA 98121

Address: 820 Blanchard St., Seattle, WA 98121
Neighborhood: Denny Triangle

CONDOS FOR SALE

Here you can find all active listings at ENSO. If your dream condo is not listed, sign-up to be instantly notified by email.

Sign-Up to receive an instant email notification of new ENSO condos for sale as soon as they hit the market. Membership also includes a monthly review of all activity for this building.

DESCRIPTION

ENSO is a more commercial environment and different than many other developments in the Denny Triangle area (there are two distinct entrances… the residential lobby is entered off of Blanchard and the Commercial Lobby is entered off Westlake). This Vulcan community is comprised of a 19-story residential tower and adjoining 16 floor commercial building. Sellen Construction has developed ENSO community directly across the street from 2200 Westlake’s Whole Foods only steps away from the street car. The concrete and steel building is LEED certified featuring energy efficient heat and cooling pumps from water that is heated and cooled by the association via a central system, dual-flush Toto Aquia toilets, low-flow Kohler shower heads and concrete countertops. Designed by Callison Architects and Interior Designers, German cabinetry by Eggersmann, local artisan concrete countertops, sandblasted glass tile backsplashes and Bosch stainless steel appliances are featured in all 135 kitchens (top three floors have optional Miele Appliances). Each home also has Lunada Bay hand poured tile, Eggersmann cabinetry, floating vanity, built in linen closets (remove) ability to upgrade to california closets and the choice of a large shower or huge soaking tub in each bathroom.

PICTURES

VIDEO

BUILDING DATA

• Year Built: 2009
• Number of Units: 135
• Number of Stories: 19
• Exterior: Cement/Concrete, Metal/Vinyl
• Parking: Common Garage
• Pets: Subj to Restrictions
• H/O Dues Included: Central Hot Water, Earthquake Ins., Garbage, Water/Sewer
• Common Property Features & Amenities: Community Room, Disabled Access, Elevator, Exercise Room, Fire Sprinklers, Game/Rec Rm, Guest Suite, Lobby Entrance, Lounge Areas, Rooftop Terrace

NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS

• Autosport Seattle
• City Limits DVD
• Ducky’s Office Furniture
• Elephant Car Wash
• Glenn Richards
• Hurricane Cafe
• Jones Soda Seattle
• KEXP 90.3 FM
• Laadla Cuisine of India
• Seattle Wine Storage
• Subway
• Whole Foods Market

VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD MAP

ADDITIONAL OPINIONS & REVIEWS

*Data is deemed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. In some cases, number of units may include commercial and residential spaces and/or height may or may not include a 13th floor.

Excitement of South Lake Union Continues to Grow

It seems as though the South Lake Union neighborhood has dominated the public’s interest in newspaper headlines. In just the last week alone, there were four updates featured in the Seattle Times and Post Intelligencer regarding economic and ecological progress. Here’s a peek at what’s the beginning of the S.L.U. boom.

• The new streetcar began operating at 12:12pm on 12-12-07. It was automobiles that were originally the death of the streetcar in the 1940’s. With the expectation of 12,000 new jobs and 6,000 new homes to be built in the neighborhood, the streetcar will help cut back on fuel usage and congestion.

• Speaking of fuel usage, another recent announcement was made stating that Propel Biofuels will open it’s flagship gas station on the corner of Westlake Avenue and Valley Street. The station will not have attendants, convenience store or even pumps. Customers will serve themselves and the landscaping will include canola, camilina, switch grass and soybeans. All of which ingredients to make biodiesel fuel.

• The media also announced the recent approval given to Vulcan, Paul Allen’s development company, to construct three 160′ buildings for the new (presumed) Amazon.com headquarters. Not only will the new location for Amazon drive a speculated 4,000 new jobs to the neighborhood, the City Counsel Panel also insured money would be allocated to affordable housing.

• On Friday, the new footbridge was installed at South Lake Union Park which connects people to the new streetcar station. The 12-acre park is planned to include parking, boardwalk, model boat pond and lush landscaping.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7c7paNe8go&rel=1]

Available real estate investments in the booming neighborhood include:

2200 Westlake
Enso at 2201 Westlake
Rollin Street Flats
Veer Lofts
Equinox