Carbon 56

Designed for the hip and trendy, Carbon 56 (formerly known as Aristo Apartments) is located in the Denny Triangle neighborhood on 2015 Terry Ave. Capitalizing on the success and cache of 2200 and the new Whole Foods located a block away, Carbon 56 is aimed at the young professional urban dweller who can’t afford or doesn’t want to pay over $500,000 for a condo.

The building was originally constructed in 2003. Carbon 56 has fifty-six New York-style lofts with five different floor plans. Pricing starts in the low $300,000s and go to the high $500,000s. Most units are priced in the low to mid $300,000s. The condos range in size from 660 to almost 1,300 sq ft. and boast 13 feet high floor to ceiling windows and maple hardwood floors. Larger floor plans have elevated resting areas.

The building also has a common terrace and fitness center. Majority of lower floor east and west facing units either come with a private patio or/and private entrance. The units were first offered to tenants in the end of January and now are available to the public. Carbon 56 Price list.

Pros

- Tall ceilings and oversized windows
- One block away from Whole Foods Market
- Good price per square foot pricing

Cons

- The views are sparse

SCR Scorecard

Exterior            Average

Interior            Average

Location            Good

View           Below average

Amenities    Below average

Value                Good

Overall            Average

Final Thoughts:

You don't have to be a hotel/condo or pay the hefty vulcan premium for one to be next door to Whole Foods.  A very attractive choice for real urban professionals who don't have $600k plus to spend on a condo.

-Wendy

   

Technorati Tags: Carbon 56, South Lake Union condos, 2200 Westlake, 2015 Terry Ave, Aristo apartment, work/live lofts, Seattle Lofts, Denny Triangle condos, Kauri investment

Comments

[sylvain]

I would just like to say first and foremost these condos are overpriced. We used to reside in the building when they were just apartments. Across the street was a building full of drug dealers. You could hear your neighbors throught the walls. There was no circulation of air. It was hot in the summer. The manager was an old bitch. Just overall obviousely a very unpleasent experience. And the worst thing of all was the consistent noize from cars and police vehicles! Anyone who actually buys a unit from this building is looking for trouble. Good luck selling those junkers!!! Oh and the owner is very rude and is just looking to rip you off to further benefit himself! I wouldn't be afraid to tell anyone my opinion. It will be noted on other websites if given ability to state opinion.

[Tim Reynolds]

Is there a record for how many times a Developer changes Sales Agents & Lenders in 1 year. The developer is onto their 2nd Sales Group. Apparently the last one, who had 8+ Realtors work the site couldn't get it done. They've also moved Lenders, again, I think this is the 4th Group. Developers, get a clue, without a well thought out MARKETING PLAN, this crap isn't going to move. It doesn't matter who you have sit there!!!!

[Mike in Pioneer Square]

I've been closely watching events at Carbon 56 because I also used to rent there when it was the Aristo apartments.

I loved my unit, but I was shocked at the price they were asking for it in the conversion offer. Having sold a view condo in Belltown, it was astounding to think they were asking more money for a converted unit with a view of the alley (and potentially a future high rise), with few amenities.

Also, the units were beautiful and modern-looking as apartments, but in many cases the remodeled units lost some of their sleek design.

For one thing, the original color scheme featured putty gray walls that nicely matched the "feel" of the building. The builders repainted them a yucky suburban beige. Then, they actually installed walls in my old loft unit and topped them with crown molding! It looked like the inside of an east side mcmansion.

If the price were more realistic I'd consider buying here in the future, although the heat in the west side units during the summer time is nearly unbearable. The mobile air conditioning units (among the largest) aren't designed to cool a room that large, and only end up heating the aluminum exhaust pipe. Since there is only one bank of openable windows, cooling is a real problem.

I wish I could have purchased here when my unit had its original layout and decor. By the time I'm ready to buy, something else will probably have caught my eye.

[anna]

You know, I must be deaf, I have never had a noise promblem there when I lived there. When a building goes under a refurb, a lot changes. The cheaper renters (people who can't afford much move out and owners move in. Old newer carpeting etc etc changes noise patterns. this place isn't as load as people make out - and old landlords are no longer there. Carbon 56 is downtown living. Go to SF or NY and this place is a dream. I rent there and have only heard the odd neighbor-noise. It is what youd expect living downtown and the same as most places in Belltown. The area is/has been cleaned up a lot with Wholefoods and the Pan Pac.

[Jaime Gummer]

You could put down a foot of the deepest shag carpeting and these condos will still be loud. If they tell you the walls are condo quality they're lying to you. They are nothing but steel studs and thin plaster. Some people may have gotten the rare quiet apartments but the one I had was loud as hell. I could hear EVERYTHING in my neighbor's apartments, next door and upstairs. There is lots of noise from the alley with nothing to absorb the sound. The worst problem is the lack of proper ventilation and air conditioning. They should call this place Greenhouse 56. This place had a lot of problems as an apartment building and I don't see how stainless steel appliances and a coat of new paint has fixed them. Buyer beware!

[Lynn]

I was also a tenant here and can contest to the heat and noise complaint. Ever since the conversion the management has been horrible- and the sales just embarrassing. Save yourself some sanity and money and avoid this cheap flip.