Mercer Street and I-5: Closures, Noise and More!

Over 80,000 vehicles use Mercer Street daily. In planning its massive renovation plan, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and its partners determined that nighttime and weekend work was necessary to keep the project on time while minimizing public impact.  SDOT recently filed a Major Public Project Construction Variance (MPPCV) allowing them to work during those hours as well.  Currently being planned:

 Mercer Street lane closures on weekdays:

• No lane closures allowed from 6 – 9 am, and from 3 – 6 pm
• Single lane closures may be allowed from 5 – 6 am, 9 am – 3 pm, and  6- 7 pm
• Weekday multiple lane closures may be allowed from 7 pm to 5 am

 Mercer Street lane closures on weekdays/holidays:

• No lane closures allowed from 2 – 6 pm.
• Single lane closures may be allowed from 6 pm – 2 pm the following day
• Multiple lane closures will be allowed from 7 pm – 1 am

 Interstate 5 ramp entrance and exit ramp to and from Mercer St closures as follows:

• Sunday to Thursday from 11 pm – 5 am
• From Friday at 11 pm to Monday at 5 am

 Timing will be adjusted due to special events like Bumbershoot, the Seafair Torchlight Parade, and victory celebrations for the Seattle Storm. 

 

Nighttime noise- limiting measures:

• All trucks performing export haul shall have rubber bed liners.
• All backup warning devices shall be either broadband or a live backup observer.
• Hospital grade mufflers and silencers on all diesel powered equipment.
• Lighting and equipment such as generators, air compressors, etc. shall be directed away from oncoming traffic and buildings, and have mitigation shields if necessary.
• Radios will be used for all long-range communication.
• Any material or debris on the pavement shall be removed by hand or by sweeping. No scraping type of equipment or activity will be used to clean pavement surfaces.
• Moveable local noise barriers 10 – 12 feet in height, plus noise curtains will be put in place.

SDOT outreach staff will ensure the public is kept aware of any changes affecting nighttime noise levels, and that all inquiries and complaints are responded to.  A Construction Hotline has been set up and will run 24/7 as a single point of contact, and that number is 206-419-5818. This SDOT link on the Mercer project carries a lot of information including timelines, maps and construction details.

McGraw Square Renovation Underway

The McGraw Square renovations officially began on September 24. One of the smallest parks in Seattle, it is located near the Westin Hotel at the intersection of Fifth Avenue, Stewart Street and Westlake Avenue. This project permanently closes Westlake Ave between Olive Way and Stewart St to create a transit, bicycle, and pedestrian-friendly plaza at the current terminus of the Seattle Streetcar South Lake Union line.

The goals of the new, centrally-located plaza are to make walking and biking through north downtown safer and more comfortable, while improving the transfer abilities of the Seattle Streetcar, Monorail, light rail tunnel, and major bus routes. The project also seeks to better connect the South Lake Union and Denny Triangle neighborhoods to the existing retail core, offering a “sense of place” to help orient new housing and promote economic development.

Just follow the numbers. The McGraw Square Transit Mall renovations include:

1. A second streetcar platform to improve rider access to/from the new plaza

2. Integrated transit shelter/covered bicycle parking for up to 10 bikes

3. Landscaped rain garden to infiltrate majority of stormwater and reduce runoff entering the sewer system

4. Illuminated seat walls with signage, to act as gateway for Westlake Hub

5. ADA access, lighting, and seating improvements near the historic McGraw statue

6. Inlaid, energy efficient (LED) light tiles as part of a comprehensive dynamic, colored lighting scheme

7. Salvaged granite pavers for detailing, taken from overstock of original Westlake Park installation

8. New street trees to replace (two-for-one) those being removed near McGraw statue; new large specimen trees to anchor Westlake Ave terminus

9. Oversized curb ramp, utility connections to facilitate mobile food vending and plaza programming

SDOT is also considering converting 6th Ave between Virginia St and Westlake Ave to a two-way operation (and to relocate the charter bus zone), with the Westlake Ave to Stewart St approach reduced to a single southbound lane. The Seattle Streetcar and buses running along 5th Ave remain in full service during construction.

McGraw Square is named after John Harte McGraw. This grocer from Maine was a Seattle police chief, harbor master, fire warden, King County sheriff, and Washington State governor from 1893-97. The designer of McGraw Square and its completion date are unknown, but it was influenced by the famous park plan that John Charles Olmsted of the Olmsted Brothers firm in Brookline, Massachusetts drew up for Seattle in 1903. Their vision of the Seattle park system was to celebrate, showcase and protect Pacific Northwest landscapes while providing residents and tourists with park access and recreation.  

The McGraw project is also part of the City’s larger Center City Strategy to make Westlake one of three transportation “hubs” serving downtown (with King Street Station and Colman Dock). Construction of the plaza project is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving 2010.

Heron Pagoda Towers – 1913 5th Ave., Seattle, WA 98101

Status: Postponed
Neighborhood: Downtown

CONDOS FOR SALE

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DESCRIPTION

Offering high-end hotel, condominium and office space, as well as deluxe retail space at ground level, developers of the 1.2 million-square-foot building at 1913 5th Avenue.  Above the glass-walled base, containing a large atrium, would rise the northern tower, nicknamed Pagoda. It would contain nine floors of hotel space, with 22 floors of condos above that.  Pagoda would be architecturally distinctive on its exterior to distinguish it from the all-residential south tower, nicknamed Heron. Separated from Pagoda by 70 feet, Heron would house 32 stories of condos.  Each sleek, angular tower would be topped by a V-shaped roof over a 50-foot-high combined open-air arboretum, roof garden and enclosed recreation space. Photovoltaic cells and microturbines would generate about 7 percent of the building’s electricity, and cisterns collecting rain would partly offset water use.

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.

1915 Second – 1915 2nd Ave., Seattle, WA 98101

Status: Proposed: 2011
Neighborhood: Downtown

CONDOS FOR SALE

Here you can find all active listings at 1915 Second. If your dream condo is not listed, sign-up to be instantly notified by email.

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DESCRIPTION

Located near the Pike Place Market and crowned by a 35-foot Western Red Cedar, 1915 Second Avenue will have a distinctively Seattle appearance. An elegant, chiseled, faceted and layered façade of metal, glass and masonry emphasize the tower’s vertical elements and slenderize the tower. Retail spaces and a residential lobby will front Second Avenue, and the building will include amenity spaces for the residents. A variety of home sizes and price points are planned to accommodate a range of homeowners.

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.

2015 Second – 2015 2nd Ave., Seattle, WA 98101

Status: Proposed: 2010
Neighborhood: Downtown

CONDOS FOR SALE

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Sign-Up to receive an instant email notification of new 2015 Second condos for sale as soon as they hit the market. Membership also includes a monthly review of all activity for this building.

DESCRIPTION

2015 Second Avenue will reside on the northwestern block at the intersection of 2nd and Virginia. Currently a parking lot, the proposed high-rise will be situated south of the Cristalla, and east of One Pacific Tower. Plans also show that the building will take full advantage of the city’s revised restrictions on height with 39 stories, and toping off at 400′ with an additional 40′ of rooftop screening.

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.

1 Hotel & Residences

Status: Postponed/Redesign
Neighborhood: Downtown

CONDOS FOR SALE

Here you can find all active listings at 1 Hotel. If your dream condo is not listed, sign-up to be instantly notified by email.

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DESCRIPTION

Located on the corner of 2nd and Pine, 1 Hotel and Residences is a retail, residential, and hotel development in the retail core of downtown.  Pike Place Market also gives this place a distinctive and lively character.  In addition to 5-start hotel accommodations, the property features: 7 penthouse townhouses with soaring 20 foot ceilings and private roof terraces; Premier Flats with large format, open plan flats, many with terraces; The Residences with a diverse collection of floor plans; and The City Suites, innovative, all suite residences designed as in-city retreats.  Within its walls, residences and guests will find retail opportunities, a signature restaurant and bar, a day spa and health club.

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.

Fischer Studio Building – 1519 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98101

Address: 1519 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98101
Neighborhood: Downtown

CONDOS FOR SALE

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

DESCRIPTION

Vintage condo collector?  Good luck adding one of these to your collection considering the rarity of availability.  Located mid-block on the west side of Third Avenue between Pike and Pine Streets, this unique eight-story building was constructed in two phases; the first three floors were built in 1912 and the remaining stories were added in 1915. As completed it provided two retail spaces at the storefront level, 64 small studio and one-bedroom apartments on five floor levels and the upper two floor levels were taken up by an auditorium performance space. In 1974 the building interior was remodeled and converted to create condominium units. It now has a three-part vertical block façade composition and noteworthy Venetian-inspired architectural character. The reinforced concrete structure includes a foundation and basement and is entirely clad with ivory-color glazed terra cotta. The retail storefront level has been entirely remodeled.

PICTURES

BUILDING DATA

• Year Built: 1912
• Number of Units: 29
• Number of Stories: 8
• Exterior: Cement/Concrete
• Parking: None
• Pets: No Restrictions
• H/O Dues Included: Cable TV, Central Hot Water, Garbage, Water/Sewer
• Common Property Features & Amenities: Cable TV, Disabled Access, Elevator, Laundry Room, Lobby Entrance, Security Gate

NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS

• Century Square
• International Cigars & Tobacco
• John Fluevog Shoes
• Macy’s
• McDonald’s
• Noc Noc
• Nordstrom Rack
• Olympic Deli
• Payless Shoe Source
• Radio Shack
• Shoe Pavilion
• Simple Life
• Triple Door
• Turf Restaurant and Lounge
• Walgreens

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.

Candela Hotel & Residences

Status: Proposed: 2012
Neighborhood: Downtown

CONDOS FOR SALE

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

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DESCRIPTION

Opening in 2012, Candela Hotel & Residences, Seattle will become an iconic part of the city skyline. Located in the heart of downtown at Second Avenue and Pike Street, this enviable location situates owners within one block of the world famous Pike Place Market and within an easy stroll of the waterfront, the Seattle Art Museum, Benaroya Hall, as well as numerous restaurants and retail shops.  Developed in partnership with Urban Visions, Seattle’s leader in sustainable real estate, the project brings together award winning architect Tom Kundig, and celebrated interior designer Clodagh, to create an environment of function, wellness and beauty. Enjoy luxury condominium living, a spa membership and the 5-star services of one of the most exciting luxury hotels to debut in the world.

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 Meridian – 1420 Terry Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101

Fifteen Twenty-One – 1521 2nd Ave., Seattle, WA 98101

Address: 1521 2nd Ave., Seattle, WA 98101
Neighborhood: Downtown

CONDOS FOR SALE

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

DESCRIPTION

Designed by Weber + Thompson Architects, and developed by William Justen, 1521 is a 38-story luxury high-rise located on 2nd between Pike and Pine Street. Each floor is designed to only accommodate 3 to 5 homes ranging from 1,659 to 2,958 square feet with exclusive interiors designed by Susan Marinello. The building also boasts protected water views over Pike Place Market with floorplans designed to maximize view potential. In addition to achieving LEED Silver status, the project also features high technological, engineering, and space-planning standards. Amenities include a porte-cochere, rooftop terrace, fitness center, yoga/pilates studio and playroom for children. Original pricing started at $1 million to more than $9 million.

PICTURES

BUILDING DATA

• Year Built: 2009
• Number of Units: 143
• Number of Stories: 38
• Exterior: Cement/Concrete, Metal/Vinyl
• 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: Cable TV, Children’s Playroom, Club House, Concierge, Disabled Access, Elevator, Exercise Room, Fire Sprinklers, Game/Rec Room, High Speed Internet Available, Lobby Entrance, Porte-Cochere, Security Gate

NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS

• Benaroya Music Hall
• Genghis Khan
• Green Room
• Happy Gifts
• Liberty Loans
• OK Grocery
• Only in Seattle
• Osaka Grill & Teriyaki
• Pike Place Market
• Showbox Theater
• Subway
• Tropical Deli
• Westlake Mall

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.

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