Pb Elemental moves in on South Park
Yup; it's true.
The proposal is for a three-story 20,000 sq. f t. addition to an existing structure containing 19 residential units above 4,500 sq. ft. of retail located at grade. Surface parking for 21 vehicles to be provided on site.
What's more is that South Park residents who wish to participate in an early design review guidelines meeting, will have to drive (or take the bus--er, two buses) all the Way to Westwood Village/Gatewood in West Seattle, and be there by 6:30pm (Thursday, July 24, 2008, SW Branch Seattle Public Library, 9010 35th Avenue SW).
The photo above, taken from this web advert, is of a completed project in Georgetown over on Corson Ave, and an example of their design elements. A year ago, that was 329K-379K for a one bedroom.
The proposed project in South Park is on 8th and Cloverdale, but it isn't a typical townhouse-only development like in the photo. They are proposing something that looks like "Mixed Use", which in Seattle means high rent retail in the bottom and condos above. One South Park resident writes in an e-mail:
I find it interesting that they plan to build on 20,000 square feet, when the EXISTING building, which could be a neighborhood gem, is still in extreme dis-repair. Several folks have approached the owners of the building to rent the bottom retail space to put in everything from a pinball restaurant to a cafe to a resale clothing store. And, the answer is always NO. Why? Help me understand how adding on would improve the situation of a neglected beautiful historic brick building across from a gem of a library (and soon to be across from a skate park).
Historical? The Department of Neighborhoods seems to think so:
It is substantially unaltered and is South park's only surviving (integrity intact) example of the ambitious commercial development that took place after South Park became likned to Seattle by streetcar and incorporated. The streetcar line crossed the Duwamish River at 8th Avenue South and terminated at this corner between about 1900 and 1910. This building was purchased by Charles O. Boggs in 1936.
According to that same Department of Neighborhoods webpage, the property appears to meet the criteria for both the National Register of Historical Sites as well as the local Landmarks Preservation Ordinance.
UPDATE: While we are on the subject of Townhouses in South Park, here's is an application to subdivide a lot on 5th and Cloverdale for, you guessed it, five unit lots.
16 comments:
The Georgetown Lofts on Corson above went in the 299k-325k range. Pb Elemental plans to do a complete renovation of the current building and bring more commercial to that intersection on 8th Ave S and S Cloverdale. The above units will be market rate apartments, not condos. If you would like accurate answers about the project or any other Pb project feel free to contact me at james@dwellingre.com.
"market rate": if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it.
Pb also built that Solar loft project just next to the firestation. I think those are a great addition to our street. I'm excited have commercial space at this end of Cloverdale.
I agree with the previous comment; Pb seems to do alot nicer development than most of the developers in this city. If anyone bought up the property, I think it is likely good that it's them.
Yes, that's what they said about Sabey too. People here weren't born yesterday. What's up with people obviously associated with the project spamming the comment thread?
I'm having a hard time imagining what a "three-story 20,000 sq. ft. addition to an existing structure" would look like in this case. Can anyone help me visualize this? Are they putting another floor on top of the existing building, or building next to it?
http://www.elementalarchitecture.com/projects/mixed/southparkRE/index.html
Notice the web pages aren't translated into Spanish. Speaks volumes. Only white arty hipsters matter.
I don't live in South Park or anything, but restoration of the historical building and the addition of some nice-looking apartments around it doesn't sound like the worst possible thing that could happen.
However, they do seem to be overstepping in terms of preservation of the existing building, with that new stuff on top. The drawings on the website are not very detailed, but building on top of the existing historical structure does seem weird.
Also, the firm should have held the meeting at the South Park Community Center or somewhere else in the neighborhood (the SP library branch has no meeting rooms). Holding the design review meeting out in Westwood Village is a slap in the face to the community.
FYI....Design review meeting locations are set by the City of Seattle, South Park falls in the West Seattle Design Review Board, thus the location in Westwood.
Oh, that's unfortunate.
Anyway, if Pb Elemental is unwelcome in Georgetown and South Park, I would like to welcome them to Beacon Hill, especially south of the golf course. I would love to see some of the dilapidated buildings on the hill given this sort of makeover or replaced entirely. Please, you guys?
I get so tired of the whining. The same hypocrits that complain about high prices are the ones that want nice brick, new and unique projects, the web translated into spanish (?), etc. etc. You can't complain about the price if you want it all custom made to your specs. The owners are building what the community will buy: nice, new places at an affordable price. Go ahead, complain about what is "affordable" now..then make your next post about how you don't like the cheap materials...
Looks like showing up for the meeting would be a good idea if you have strong opinions about it.
I am not found of the design - but then I like older buildings - building next to and around existing is not an issue - but when significant changes are made - I like to make my voice heard.
Perhaps I will see some of you at this design review meeting.
...Recognizing, of course, that going to a design review meeting is not the only venue to express dissent or dissatisfaction.
It looks like if everyone shows up, there will be four "anonymous" participants.
Or you could just sit at home and complain
la dele
yeah, if only we had just had more meetings, there wouldn't be that gaping hole along AWS. seriously, when will people figure out that these meetings are mostly done when all of the decisions have been made, and are a way to contain people who lack the creativity to do anything else?
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