Seattle Condo Review: Blog with News & Advice about Seattle Condos

Feb 1 Seattle Condo Update

Well, it has only been a week since I was gone for my vacation but it seems like a number of condo projects have some news for us.

• Fifteen Twenty-One kicked off their grand opening event with a light show and tour of their model home. There are 11 homes remaining with the lowest price starting at $975,000.     

• Alex in Belltown announced that they are moving ahead in full speed as a condomium project. They will be selling their homes sometime in May. Completion for this condo building is going to be in late spring.  

• Market Street Landing, the condo project replacing the Denny's in Ballard is still under going design review. The 5 and 8 story buildings will house 330 homes. The design review board thinks that the design still needs a little bit of work. Read more here.  

• Equinox has updated their website. The construction progress is on track with windows installed and sheet rock started in the North Building. A model unit will be available for viewing in late March. Homeowners can be expected to move in in June.  

• Trace North is featuring 5 homes under $300k.    

• Ruby will be holding their grand opening on February 7th and 8th (Saturday & Sunday). Prices for their lake view homes start at $329,990 and bridge view homes start from $259,990. The project is also FHA approved. Read more on the hard hat tour.

Related Posts:

Alex Update
Equinox Update
Fifteen Twenty-One Opening Ceremony
Trace North Update
Ruby Condos Update

Hjarta Update

Thirt-nine out of the total seventy-nine Hjarta homes are sold with buyers moving in since last month.  After touring the building with Sam Ward, the sales manger, I felt like I was given a crash course in green building features. The condo is seeking LEED Silver Certification.  When asked about the higher price per square foot for this building versus other new construction projects in the neighborhood, Sam pointed out that the average price for LEED certified building is 4.8% higher than non-LEED certified building.  In return, you get better air quality, efficient use of energy and long term cost savings for the homeowner association.

Here are some green features in the building:

• Decorative materials in the lobby entrance-recycled glass from Bedrock (a local company)
• Cork floorings in the amenity areas
• Concrete walls in the hall ways which require minimal upkeep
• Recycled glass back splashes in the kitchens
• Low volatile organic compound level in carpets, paints, sealants and adhesive - which also produces better air quality
• Recyclable content tile floors in the bathrooms
• High performance windows which reduce vibration from street noise and heat transfer
• Carpet square floors in the bedroom which use nylon and recycled content and can be replaced more easily when there is stain
• Drought tolerant landscaping
• Electrical car parking in the garage

You don't see a lot of granite materials except for the fireplace and even those pieces are excess granite from other developers.

The Danielle

The Danielle will be the latest addition to the Ballard neighborhood (5803 24th Ave NW).  The building is designed by award winning Seattle architect, Roger Newell and it is only a couple blocks away from Noma.  Prices for these 31 homes start from the $200,000's to $900,000's.  Interiors of the homes will feature the following:

• Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, tall windows and smart-home wiring
• Radiant floors in kitchen and master bathroom
• Advanced security system
• Walk in closets 
• Large decks, patios or terraces
• Amenities such as roof top deck

The condo is slated for completion in 2009 with sales beginning in fall 2008.

Condos in the same neighborhood: Noma, Canal Station and Hjarta.

-Wendy

Where in Seattle will the investor money go in 2008?

Housing Demand in Ballard

Downtown Seattle is not the only neighborhood that has projects in the works. The Seattle Department of Planning and Development has been issuing building permits over the last 18 months for 1,550 new residential units in Ballard.

Judging from a lot of my downtown clients ultimately buying in Ballard and Fremont, many people seem to be starting their searches in Belltown, Queen Anne, and Capitol Hill but ending up writing contracts in more square foot per dollar neighborhoods just outside the downtown core.

Read more.

-About Wendy

Ballard Condo News

Ballard News Tribune ran a story about the Ballard Library demolition which appears to be delayed. Below is an excerpt, click here for the full article.

"Ballard's old library, now home to Abraxus Books, is safe from the demolition axe - at least for now.

Pryde Johnson Developments own the building at 5711 24th Avenue Northwest. It's sat empty for the last two years until the bookstore moved in March 1 from a warehouse on Seaview Avenue.

The developers had planned to build a mixed use, retail-residential building there with about 94 units and 120 below grade parking stalls. A design review meeting was held last spring, but the project was put on hold while other developments in the neighborhood are underway, including Pryde Johnson's own Hjarta Condominiums on Northwest Market Street."

-Wendy

Technorati Tags: Ballard condos, Ballard condo news, Seattle condos, Seattle real estate, Hjarta, Pryde Johnson

Ballard condos- coming soon

   

A 6 story condominium building is going to replace Denny’s Restaurant at Ballard (on the corner of 15th Ave NW & Market Street). This 205 unit condominium building will be located on the east side of the currently under construction condo, Hjarta. Read more on this new development.

More condos in this neighborhood.

Noma/Canal Station
Hjarta

-Wendy

Technorati Tags: Noma condos, Ballard condos, Noma Ballard, Canal Station, Claudio Guincher, Continental Properties, Seattle condos, Hjarta, Pryde+Johnson, Weber+Thompson

Noma/ Canal Station

Ballard, once a sleepy Scandanavian outpost, has become the hot neighborhood as young urbanites are lured there by thriving night life, trendy boutiques, proximity to downtown Seattle and more affordable housing prices. NOMA (located at 24th Ave NW & 56th St), an abbreviation of North of Market, is scheduled for occupancy in March 2007.

The 90 unit building targets the young and hip. Studios started at $180k while the remaining units include 1 bedroom plus den, 2 bedrooms and 2 bedrooms plus den begin in the low $400,000's.  Units range in size from slightly over 400 sq.ft. to 1,056 sq. ft. -- many with views of both the mountains and the water. So far, they have around 20 two bedroom units left.

The ground floor of the building will be occupied by 3 retail spaces including Ballard Eagle Club, the oringinal occupiers of the site.  The buidling has a secured entrance and parking, with one space allocated per unit.  The building also includes a fitness center, a library, a conference room and rooftop deck.

Individual units may be customized to include slab countertops as opposed to the standard granite tile, glass upper cabinets in the kitchen, full height tile backsplashes, and a natural stone fireplace surround and upgraded tile accents in the bathrooms. Standard features include the choice of two color palettes, bamboo hardwood floors in the entry and kitchen, boucle woven carpet in the living room, dinning room and bedrooms, tiled bathrooms and a deck or patio off of the living room.

Canal station on Leary and 20th in Ballard is the third Ballard project for developer Claudio Guincher of Continental Properties. With and emphasis on contemporary, clean and sophisticated living, Canal Station will feature top of the line amenities including a fountain and sculpture filled courtyard, a spa, a fitness center and a concierge and business center.

Phase 1 broke ground in 2005 and is scheduled to begin occupancy in May and June of 2007. The new project will have 119 units ranging from the mid $200k to under $800k. The condos ranges from ~530 sq.ft. Jr. 1 bedroom to 1,242 sq.ft. 2 bedroom plus den.

Interiors will come outfitted with GE stainless steel appliances, a choice of Maple or Cherry cabinetry with either Shakers or flat style panel doors. Kitchen upgrades are available, including an undermounted sink and a high end appliances package. Phase 2 of Canal Station is expected to open for occupancy in 2008. They still have several one bedroom and two bedroom units left.

Overall, Canal Station has more comprehensive amenities than Noma Ballard. Both locations are comparable. The standard finishes in Canal Station seem to be higher quality than Noma, however the price per square foot is also higher.  If you are looking for something practical, Noma will fill those needs. If you don't mind spending more to get nicer interior finishes, check out Canal Station.

-Wendy

Technorati Tags: Noma condos, Ballard condos, Noma Ballard, Canal Station, Claudio Guincher, Continental Properties, Seattle condos

Hjarta

Hjarta, which means “heart” in Icelandic, will be the tallest building in Ballard and hosted a preview event last weekend. This 79 unit mixed-use condo will be seeking LEED certification. There are two parts of the building: the south building will be condominium units and the north building’s use is currently not yet determined. There is a possibility of it becoming a rental apartment.

Amenities include a rooftop garden, kidSpace, club room, yoga room, and spin room.

Some green features include:

• water saving plumbing fixtures
• drought tolerant landscaping
• low volatile organic compounds carpets, paints, sealants and adhesive
• operable windows and ventilation systems
• conservation of natural resources with the use of renewable materials such as bamboo and cork flooring

Pryde + Johnson  is the developer for Hjarta and they currently have mixed used projects in place in Green Lake, Capitol Hill, Dexter Ave and Roosevelt neighborhoods.

Price range

One bedroom                                $309,000-$379,000

One bedroom with study alcove       $325,000-$389,000

Large one bedroom                        $359,000-$399,000

Two bedroom                               $479,000-$549,000

Most of their units come with a balcony. #01, #06 are two bedroom corner units. The floor plan has a very efficient layout with the two bedrooms separated by the living area. If you prefer a larger balcony, go with their #10.

Ballard is becoming a more and more popular neighborhood for home buyers. It has a relatively short commute to the city without the higher price tag you would have to pay for a closer neighborhood. If you are someone who is conscious about the environment and prefer a greener home, Hjarta is worth checking out.

-Wendy

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Technorati Tags: Hjarta condo, Ballard condo, Hjarta, Green condo, LEED condo