Olive 8 – Your chance to own a piece of “The Sky”

Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty became Olive 8’s new listing agent on January 1^st, and it is open for business!  Dubbed “The Sky Collection”, up for sale at Olive 8 are homes located from the 27^th floor and up. Tap on this Olive 8 link to check out a five-minute video with author and syndicated columnist Tom Kelly.  He examines the new condominium development market in Seattle, specifically focusing on this exciting property.  

The video also refers to the amount of new condominium homes available in the Seattle area, and below is a copy of the graph as referenced by Dean Jones, Principal and Owner of Realogics Sotheby’s. 

Note the amount of available condominiums in orange, in comparison to the number of condominiums that were converted to apartments (apartment conversions) in green. As a result, Olive 8 represents 25% of the available new condo market.*

Olive 8 is a 39-story luxury hotel/condominium building on the corner of Olive Street and 8^th Avenue in downtown Seattle. Atop 17 floors occupied by the Hyatt at Olive 8 hotel, it includes one-bedroom and two-bedroom luxury view homes, plus three world-class penthouses. Your new home at Olive 8 will boast panoramic views and high-end touches, combined with world-class hotel amenities and services. Better still are special privileges for homeowners including private elevators and controlled access, a 24-hour concierge, a private residential club lounge and discounted rates at Elaia Spa.

Fans of green living are in for a delightful surprise with Olive 8, the first hotel/ condominium building in Seattle to receive an LEED Certification (Silver)!   Its green roof, one of the largest in Seattle, provides an urban habitat for birds, bees and butterflies while reducing storm water runoff to city sewers. Olive 8’s dedication to the environment also results in 36% less water usage (approx savings of 2.4 million gallons annually) and 23% less power usage.  

Olive 8’s environmental stewardship also reaches far beyond its walls. It was the first Seattle building to participate in King County’s Transfer of Development Rights program. In exchange for building higher, developer R.C. Hedreen Company contributed nearly $1 million to preserve 284 acres on Sugarloaf Mountain in rural King County, as well as vital salmon habitat.

We’re busy retooling our own websites for the new Olive 8 opportunities.  In the meantime, you can stay in touch on the latest Olive 8 news, or schedule a private tour with us by contacting this Stroupe Group link.   

*Units are identified as being sold as a non-refundable earnest money deposit (pending) or closed.  Please note that title reports are often late with real time information and often show fewer homes sold than actual. 

Open House: Sunday, December 5, 2010

Open 1-4 pm

Concord – 2929 1st Avenue, Unit 600

$675,000

Mls: 133731

Situated on the NW corner of the Concord, this unit boasts exceptional unobstructed views of Olympic Sculpture Park, Elliott Bay, Olympic Mountains and Alki point. This bright unit features maple cabinets, slab granite counters, stainless steel appliances, gas cooking, new hardwoods and A/C.  The Concord features concierge service, fitness center, spa, terraces and a business suite.  All of this, in the heart of Belltown!

Hosted by James Stroupe– (206) 910-5000, james@stroupe.com 

Beep, Bzzt: Electric Car news (and a test drive, too)

Nissan’s first zero-emission, all-electric car, the Nissan LEAF, will be hitting Seattle streets in December. And where will you plug them in?  In August 2009, a $99.8 million goverment grant to Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec) was awarded to set up electric car networks in five cities nationwide. Seattle’s portion will be used to set up around 2,550 charging systems, enabling drivers to use electric vehicles throughout the region with the security of knowing a charging station is nearby.  AND, under this program, LEAF buyers will also be offered a free 220-volt charging station for home use, similar to the power level you’d use to run your dryer.

With an agreement between local goverments and Nissan North American in place, both Seattle and King County are working to get these cars into their carpools, as well as encouraging buyers to get them on the streets. Zipcar users both public and with the city will be able to drive a LEAF, too, because Zipcar is also an eTec program partner. 

Plug-in locations are still being determined throughout King County, but currently scheduled for setup in Seattle are as follows:

Central Library Parking Garage- 4 stations

Fauntleroy Ferry Dock- 6 stations

King Street Center- 8 stations 

Pacific Place Parking Garage- 5 stations

Pike Place- 2 stations

SeaPark Garage – 6 stations

Seattle Center, 5th Ave Parking Garage- 5 stations

UW Foster School of Business- 1 station

The LEAF is a five-passenger hatchback with sporty handling that can go about 100 miles on an eight-hour charge. At current Seattle City Light electric rates, the LEAF would cost approximately $200 to drive 10,000 miles, or around 2 cents a mile. With the same scenario, a gas-powered vehicle based on 25 mpg would cost approximately $1,220, at $3.05 per gallon. One hears about the high cost of purchasing an electric car, but the LEAF is scheduled to be priced in the range of a typical family sedan. And, you’ll be able to set your mobile phone to activate the air conditioning and the charging performance wirelessly.

If you’d like to take the future out for a spin today, Nissan is sponsoring a test drive in Tukwila from Friday through Sunday, November 12th – 14th.  Register ahead of time at https://www.drivenissanleaf.com, select Events in the left column, then Seattle, and a registration form will pop up. Allow around 60-90 minutes for the test drive. If you want to go on a first-come, first-serve basis, the event takes place at Westfield Southcenter in the parking lot area north of Macy’s.  Hours on Friday and Saturday are from 7am – 5pm, and Sunday from 8am- 4pm.

The Decatur: First Hill Finery, with a Neighborly Touch

You may find yourself torn as to what you want in a condominium home. You thrive in the high energy of a city. Then you come across a photo of a street with big, shady trees and think, “I’ll never find that here”. Surprise! The Decatur Condominiums not only offers you a neighborhood lifestyle but you’re also minutes away from a lot of Seattle living. And, at up to 35 percent off its original prices, The Decatur is a bargain to boot!

The Decatur was designed by Space Needle architect John Graham Jr. in 1950. The recent restoration and upgrading of its 13 stories by Wysong Group (who also worked on Tobira and the Press) now feature 146 one-bedroom (starting at $189,950) and two-bedroom (starting at $269,950) homes. There are four floor plans to choose from, all homes sporting Brazilian cherry wood floors, plush carpeting, granite countertops and top-of-the line stainless steel appliances.

If you’re into green living, this building is a beauty. It has a Zipcar service plus a parking area for bikes and scooters. You’ll also be living in what’s ranked as Seattle’s third most “walkable” neighborhood. Want a place with views? From the ground floor where you enter from tree-lined streets, to the rooftop terrace with wraparound city, mountain and water views, there is beauty from top to toe. Is security an issue? You have a controlled access entry with CCTV surveillance. There’s even a live-in building manager.

But what’s really nice about The Decatur is that when you come home from a busy city day, you really feel as if you’re not IN the city anymore. Its First Hill location is in one of Seattle’s most established neighborhoods, which prides itself in keeping its streets quiet and safe. Neighboring buildings and homes are beautiful and carefully kept. Actually, it’s hard to believe that all this peace and quiet is sandwiched between two of the hottest areas in Seattle. To the north is the edge of Capitol Hill’s Pike/Pine neighborhood, and to the south is Downtown. Both areas have something for everyone, with a wide range of shops, restaurants, culture and nightlife.

The Decatur is located at the foot of Capitol Hill on the corner of Boren Avenue and Spring Street. Over 65 percent sold, The Decatur is ready for immediate move-in. Take advantage of their final sales release, with FHA financing* available. There’s also 3.5% down payment options, and closing cost credits available.

Want to check it out?  Contact us at this link!

NOTE: Seller reserves the right to change the product offering without notice. *Financing assumes 3.5% down payment (FHA) on a 30 year fixed mortgage with a 2-1 buy down by seller for 2.25% interest first year, 3.25% interest second year and 4.25% thereafter. Payment includes P&I and MI. (HOA dues and taxes not included). This is not a commitment to lend – certain restrictions and qualifications required. E&OE.

The Danielle: A Walker’s Dream in Ballard

The Danielle, a boutique community of 31 one and two-bedroom homes, got off to a roaring start this past weekend.   Not only did their Open House bring in over 150 attendees, but 40 percent of the community is now sold!

There’s a lot going for The Danielle.  Located a block west of Ballard Avenue and two blocks north of Market Street, you can easily walk to a new QFC plus cafés, restaurants, boutiques and services.  And speaking of walking, walkscore.com gives The Danielle a score of 98 out of 100. Need more than that to keep in shape?  Three fitness centers are also within walking distance.

Homes range in size from approximately 646 to more than 1,250 square feet. You can barbecue on the 2,000 square foot rooftop deck, sporting great views of the Ballard Locks plus Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.  Want more privacy?  You also get your own large deck, patio or  terrace. Hardwood floors are featured throughout, with large kitchens and four different styles of wood cabinetry.  Some homes include dens and gas fireplaces, and even heated tile floors in the bathrooms. There’s also no problem with parking. The Danielle’s garage is access-controlled, with one parking space per bedroom.

Premium finishing touches on The Danielle should be completed by the end of November.  Prices start at $229,950, and they are FHA-approved.  If you’d like more information or to check out this special place, just contact us at this link and let’s talk!

Marselle Photos – 1 Bedrooms, Townhomes, plus Amenities

So far, the Marselle has achieved 11 sales and two pendings.  The units themselves are pretty nice, with location only three blocks from the city center. 

There’s 2 types of units that we expect to be very popular at Marselle.  The 1 bedroom plus sizable den, and the townhomes are very nice.  Here are some pics of their modeled 1 bedroom + den:

As mentioned in a post from our first visit, the townhomes are also a splendid buy.  We took pictures of unit #705, which is just under $650k.  The 2 bedroom plus den has soaring ceilings and a full on view of the Space Needle from the living room and bedroom, in addition to its own rooftop terrace access.  We sure would love to see the view from that unit at night!  Here’s the pics:

As far as amenities go, Marselle features a game room w/kitchen, a fitness room, stretch room, and of course the rooftop terrace with a doggie area.

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.

Olive 8 – Unit and Amenity Photos: Blue = the New Green

We popped into Olive 8 on Friday after their buyer event the day before.  It was nice to finally see the finished product after going through and taking construction photos late last year.

Units seem to look much bigger when staged/vacant as opposed to having ladders, boxes, and saws everywhere.  Probably one of the most noticeable differences was the high ceilings.  Leslie Williams of Williams Marketing pointed out several other small details that she said many buyers really liked, such as the tiling around the tub plus the lights above the tubs and under the cabinets.

Leslie also made sure to point out the size of the private decks, which are very comfortable in size–plenty of room for creating an outdoor sanctuary to enjoy sunsets & wine.

Another unit that turned out really well is the open 1 bedroom.  

There are of course more resident amenities that are shared with the hotel.  The spa seemed somewhat busy, so we didn’t get more than just a cool picture of the sign…

The fitness room is actually more than three times bigger than what’s shown in the photo below.  To the left is a wall where there’s another large area for aerobics/yoga/stretch area.

…and now for the best part– the pool!  No, we didn’t stick our heads in to see what the underwater stereo system sounded like, but the actual came pretty close to the rendering.

Overall, the newly completed project looks very good!

Exciting Bay Vista Upgrades are in the Works!

Back in March of 2008, Bay Vista began identifying some new improvements they were going to be making to their 6th floor amenities.  Bay Vista already has one of the most unique amenities in the city with an outdoor jogging path and pea patch.  However, the decor has turned out to be rather outdated, considering the building was built in 1982.  Architects Degen & Degen have been in charge of the new design and they seem to have planned it well.  The new design goes well with the existing exterior and interior design.

Here are some renderings and photos of the construction (taken yesterday).

The new kitchen and bar will now have wheelchair access with 2 different types of hardwoods.  With the new layout, the door leading to the outside jogging path with Western facing views will welcome much more impressive opportunities for entertaining guests.

A few other new improvements to the Bay Vista Club Room include recarpeting the sitting area and adding some new shelving where the TV will be placed.  There will also continue to be a thoughtful divider between the room’s entrance  and open space where residents are watching sports games, political speeches, etc.

Probably one of the most exciting new changes for residents at Bay Vista is the addition of space to the fitness room.  They’ve about doubled the space, which before has been pretty small (the outline in the pictures below represent the additional space).

A brokers open will be scheduled after completion.  To get even more of an idea how the outcome will look, click through the photo gallery below for more renderings and texture provided by Melissa Walling at Degen & Degen.

1200 Stewart – 1200 Stewart St., Seattle, WA 98101

Status: Proposed: 2011
Neighborhood: Downtown

CONDOS FOR SALE

Here you can find all active listings at 1200 Stewart. 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 1200 Stewart condos for sale as soon as they hit the market. Membership also includes a monthly review of all activity for this building.

DESCRIPTION

1200 Stewart is slated for two 40-story mixed-use towers, including residential, hotel and street level retail. The building will be LEED silver certified and is being designed by Thoryk Architecture and Scalter Partners Architects.

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.

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