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.

Rollin Street goes Rental

Matt Goyer at Urbnlivn.com posted it first.  Please review the information on his site if you’re interested:

With Pre Sales At 25%, Rollin Street Going Apartments

Amazon Still Moving Along with 11 New Buildings in SLU

Construction has been underway for some time, and Amazon has recently reported that they’re not making any plans to get out of thier lease with Vulcan.  A spokesperson for Amazon confirmed that the company is looking forward to the move, making mention that it should be a good move for the company and its customers.  Mayor Greg Nickels predicted that there will be an approximate 20,000 people working in the South Lake Union neighborhood by 2012–double today’s number.  That can mean huge profits for those who have currently invested or plan on investing in downtown real estate.  It could also mean the opposite for those waiting to see if it actually happens.

Rollin Street – 120 Westlake Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109

Address: 120 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109
Neighborhood: South Lake Union/Denny Triangle

CONDOS FOR SALE

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

DESCRIPTION

Rollin Street Flats is one of three projects by Vulcan located on the corner of Westlake and Denny.  These loft homes have nearly no interior walls and most units have up to 10′ high ceilings.*  Interior finishes include German Eggersmann cabinetry, stone surfaces, crushed quartz kitchen counter tops, high-grade hardwoods, Bosch appliances, Kohler fixtures, air-conditioning, and decks.  A unique amenity at Rollin Street Flats is the integration of a multi-use sport court for basketball, volleyball, or badminton. The 4th floor deck has a grilling area, party seating and fireplace.  Built by Howard S. Wright Construction Co. and designed by loft experts Ankrom Moisan, the 11-story building has been built to achieve LEED Silver certification with key features being water conserving fixtures, dual-flash toilets, and drought resistant landscaping.

PICTURES

VIDEO

BUILDING DATA

• Year Built: 2009
• Number of Units: 208
• Number of Stories: 11
• Exterior: Brick, Cement/Concrete
• Parking: Common Garage
• Pets:Subj. to Restrictions
• H/O Dues Included: Cable TV, Central Hot Water, Earthquake Ins., Garbage, Water/Sewer
• Common Property Features & Amenities: Basketball Court, Cable TV, Community Room, Disabled Access, Elevator, Exercise Room, Fire Sprinklers, Lobby Entrance, Outdoor Terrace, Sport Court

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.

The Martin

Status: Postponed
Neighborhood: Belltown

CONDOS FOR SALE

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

DESCRIPTION

This 23-story community of 172 homes is where mid-century modern meets techno-organic sensibilities.  Interior design elements such as upbeat colors, expansive windows, Italian cabinetry, renewable materials and sliding glass doors create an entirely fresh way of looking at things.  Homeowners will especially appreciate the 23rd floor amenities with stunning views of the city, Puget Sound and Lake Union.  From this breathtaking vantage point, they can work out in the fully equipped exercise facility, entertain in the expansive community room, grill in the outdoor kitchen, relax by the fire pit, or get their hands dirty in the rooftop P-patch.  As a pet friendly community, there’s even a 6th floor dog park and grooming station for large and small dogs.  And you couldn’t ask for a better set location–The Martin is an easy walk to downtown shopping and Belltown nightlife.  Think of the Martin as a whole new genre in a sea of predictable action/drama/chick flicks.

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.

70th Annual First Citizen Award Honoring Paul Allen

On Thursday, October 30th, the Seattle-King County Association of Realtors will be honoring Paul Allen for his “unwavering commitment to nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest and lifetime giving approaching $1 billion.” The co-founder of Microsoft and chairman of Vulcan, Inc. has influenced our region to be one of the most desired places in the country to live and work.

The gala banquet will be held at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel on 6th Avenue. Tickets are $125 per person, or $1,100 for a table of 10. You can register here, or come back to our blog and find a link on the right of our page under “Events.”

Allen’s contributions include:

• Donated $18 million to build a new library addition at the University of Washington.
• Created the Kenneth S. Allen Library Endowment Fund
• Lead donors to the Seattle Public Library Foundation and contributed $22.5 million toward the construction of the new downtown library.
• Donated $5 million to establish the Faye G. Allen Center for Visual Arts.
• Launched foundations to focus specifically on the arts, medical research, and broad range of health and human service needs.
• Formed The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, consolidating six previous foundations; The Allen Foundation for the Arts, The Paul G. Allen Charitable Foundation, The Paul G. Allen Foundation for Medical Research, The Paul G. Allen Forest Protection Foundation, The Allen Foundation for Music, and The Paul G. Allen Virtual Education Foundation.
• Awarded grants to nearly 1,600 diverse nonprofit groups to support and advance their critical charitable endeavors in the Pacific Northwest.
• Founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc. and chairman of Charter Communications.
• Funded SpaceShipOne which was the first privately-funded effort to successfully put a civilian in suborbital space and winer of the Ansari X-Prize competition.
• Owner of the Seattle Seahawks NFL and Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchises, and is part of the primary ownership group for Seattle’s new Major League Soccer team.
• Currently active in the redevelopment of more than 60 acres in the South Lake Union neighborhood.
• Founder of the Experience Museum and Hall of Fame, as well as with Vulcan Productions.
• Commited to $100 million in seed money dedicated to brain research and unveiled the creation of the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle.

Allen is bar far one of the most deserving recipients of the First Citizen award! Learn more about Paul Allen and his contributions by information compiled by the Seattle-King County Association of Realtors.

“The best advice I’ve received came many years ago from my father. He told me that you should love whatever work you do, you should try to find something you truly enjoy. And I’ve been lucky through the years that the work I’ve been involved with has been challenging and for the most part, fun.”

– Paul Allen

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.

Veer Lofts – 401 9th Ave., Seattle, WA 98109

Address: 401 9th Ave., Seattle, WA 98109
Neighborhood: South Lake Union

CONDOS FOR SALE

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

DESCRIPTION

Developed by Vulcan Real Estate, Veer Lofts was designed by experts in lofts; Johnson Architects. Homes offer volumes of open space and marketing encourages buyers to personalize thier homes by becoming a weekend regular Home Depot. Constructed by Walsh Construction, the LEED Certified community features drought tolerant landscaping, water conserving fixtures, natural day lighting with walls almost entirely made of glass and recycled building materials. Floorplans range from 624 to 1067 square feet with some having their own private outdoor balcony. Veer Lofts is located across the street from South Lake Union Streetcar line, the Westlake Whole Foods and just a few blocks away from everything else downtown has to offer.

PICTURES

VIDEO

BUILDING DATA

• Year Built: 2008
• Number of Units: 99
• Number of Stories: 6
• Exterior: Cement/Concrete, Metal/Vinyl
• Parking: Common Garage
• Pets: Subj to Restrictions
• H/O Dues Included: Earthquake Ins., Garbage, Water/Sewer
• Common Property Features & Amenities: Bocce Ball Court, Elevator, Fire Sprinklers, Lobby Entrance, Retail, Rooftop Terrace

NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS

• 13 Coins
• Alpha-Cine
• Beba’s A Deli
• City Limits DVD
• Cornish College
• Gordon Woodside/John Braseth
• Seattle Piano Gallery
• Seattle Times
• Seattle Wine Storage
• Slo Joe’s Bigtime Backyard BBQ
• 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.

2200 Westlake – 2200 Westlake, Seattle, WA 98121

Address: 2200 Westlake, Seattle, WA 98121
Neighborhood: Denny Triangle/South Lake Union

CONDOS FOR SALE

Here you can find all active listings at 2200 Westlake Landings. 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 2200 Westlake condos for sale as soon as they hit the market. Membership also includes a monthly review of all activity for this building.

DESCRIPTION

550,000 square-foot three tower project including an upscale 47,000 square foot Whole Foods grocery store, a five-star Pan Pacific hotel, luxury spa and Marazul Asian Latino restaurant mainly serving the Denny Triangle and South Lake Union neighborhoods. Homes feature open-living spaces, premium kitchens and spacious balconies. The tallest tower featuring the hotel (ARIA) stands 18 stories with only 33 private residences between the 12th and 18th floor. The ARIA building’s lobby was designed by award-winning Hirsch Bedner Associates Interior Design. The southern tower (ARTE) features a two-level lobby, artwork by local artist Betsy Eby and stands 15 stories with 126 units. This tower also includes resident party room, 18-person theater, guest suite, wet bar and pool table. The western tower (AZUR) is where you’ll find resident fitness center and rooftop terrace. AZUR stands 12 stories and has 102 units. The goal of this complex is to provide a lifestyle of convenience with luxury hotel services and doorstep access to the South Lake Union streetcar. Homes originally priced from below $300,000 to over $2 million.

PICTURES

BUILDING DATA

• Year Built: 2006
• Number of Units: 261
• Number of Stories: 18, 15 and 12
• Exterior: Cement/Concrete
• Parking: Common Garage, Individual Garage
• Pets: Subj to Restrictions
• H/O Dues Included: Central Hot Water, Earthquake Ins., Garbage, Water/Sewer
• Common Property Features & Amenities: Cable TV, Disabled Access, Elevator, Exercise Room, Fire Sprinklers, Game/Rec Room, High Speed Internet Available, Hot Tub, Lobby Entrance, Sauna, Security Gate, Theater, Guest Suite

NEIGHBORHOOD

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