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!

What’s Your Walk Score

While surfing the Internet, I found this fun new link that scores an address based on how convenient it is to walk to nearby stores, restaurants, parks, etc..  WalkScore.com uses a patented algorithm that characterizes walkable communities by density, housing types, public spaces, overall accessibility and well connected streets.  However, there’s no real need to use this for Seattle’s downtown condo addresses.  Nearly every address got a score of over 90 with the exception of a few buildings down by the waterfront.  Also, it came to no surprise that Olive 8 scored 100, but I was surprised to see the Cosmopolitan score a 98.  Here are some other scores I tried just out of curiousity:

• 98 Union = 98
• Bellora = 88
• Concord Condominiums = 92
• Cosmopolitan = 98
• Ellington = 89
• Four Seasons = 98
• Harbor Heights = 92
• Lumen = 94
• Madison Tower = 95
• Matae = 89
• Olive 8 = 100
• Parc = 88
• Seattle Heights = 92

Results show icons that identify what type of business is located within walking distance in addition to contact information and reviews.  What Walk Score does not do is score an address on topography, public transportation, street/sidewalk width, weather, and/or safety.  Regardless, this is a great new site for getting to know an addresses neighborhood and was awarded for being one of the Top 10 Websites by Planetizen Urban Planning, Design and Development Network.