So the two downtown buildings blocking any sunset views we might have had to the west and southwest will be complete in 2018; the twisted 43-floor 5th and Columbia and the wider 34-floor 5th and Madison. You have all heard of Skyline Two across from our 1st floor entry, out there in the 2021 timeline. And starting in January on the opposite corner just across Columbia Street from us, the 30-floor “800 Columbia Building.”
Skyline is currently the biggest building with the most people, but there is quite a lot else going skyward in our immediate neighborhood bounded by James, Boren, Madison, and the Freeway. Let me survey the new construction by direction from us (Skyline, whose front faces NE, has 270+125 residents and 300 parking spaces); the punch line is more than 2,700 new neighbors and 1,000 additional cars:
- To the NE, just one short block away, the Frye’s “707 Terry” tilted twin towers in the parking lots between Columbia and Cherry may start up this winter; parking spaces go from the present 100 up to 283). Two 33-story towers with 440 apartment units. Perhaps 800 new residents.
- To the East, those two wood-framed buildings under construction at Boren and James. The 1050 James is a 7-story with 74 units. Parking for 31 vehicles. Perhaps 140 residents.
- The square block on the south side of James is 1001 James, a 8-story, 325 unit apartment building with retail at ground level. Parking for 286 vehicles. Perhaps 600 residents?
- The 620 Terry will take up the entire half-block south of the Frye: a 24-story, 117 unit assisted living facility and 126 unit apartment building with retail at ground level (let us hope for a grocery store). Parking for 132 vehicles. Perhaps 350 new residents. Construction beginning.
- To our South, Trinity’s endowment apartments will rise someday; no plans on file yet.
- The low-rise 710 Cherry apartment building is about done at the northbound freeway entrance; 80 studio units, perhaps 110 residents, no parking (residents cannot afford cars) but space for 24 bicycles.
- To our SW, the aforementioned Skyline Two with 70 units, another 125 people with their parking; no plans on file yet.
- To the West, the Polyclinic parking lot protects what is left of our sunset view. However, the downtown skyline beyond it will change, as when the oddly-shaped 57-floor Rainier Tower arises to the north of the 39-floor Rainier Square pedestal building.
- To the NW, The 800 Columbia (of course the name is badly outdated; there is now no entry off Columbia, only at 800 8th Ave) is a 30-story, 287 units, 234 parking spaces. About 550 new neighbors? At least we get a nice new public space with a cafe and a good view when exiting from our parking garage.
- To the NW beyond Madison on 8th Ave south of Town Hall, the 1101 8th Ave proposal is for two 32-story structures containing a total of 565 apartment units above retail, office and restaurant. Parking for 387 vehicles. Perhaps 900 new residents; plans on hold.
- Due North of us, nothing new. Were this Manhattan, I’d worry about the air space above the Cathedral being occupied by a tall building arising from a tapering pedestal planted in the courtyard reception area, the taper just clearing the cathedral’s spires.
So, after the dust settles, 2,700 more residents in the neighborhood (many with children), and more than a thousand additional cars (beyond those in existing parking lots) to clog the streets. On the bright side, we might get a real grocery store (1001 James has room, as will 620 Terry across the street) and some serious restaurants (the south side of 707 Terry has assigned space for one).
Remind me to update this every six months.
