The towers around us are looming

Sue Van Leuven sent this along from the Daily Journal of Commerce. Note that the design review will be on July 25th at 6:30 PM.

Tower proposed on First Hill has increased to 29 stories, 276 units

Rendering by MG2 [enlarge]

MG2 is designing the project for a parking lot at 815 Ninth Ave., near St. James Cathedral.

As the DJC first reported earlier this year, a Medina developer is planning a new apartment tower opposite St. James Cathedral, on a parking lot at 815 Ninth Ave.

Guang De Liu of 815 Investments LLC paid $5.75 million in January for the 10,800-square-foot midblock site.

The initial plan was for a 15-story tower with up to 156 apartments. The new plan, also by MG2, is for a 29-story tower with 276 units, retail and four levels of underground parking for 102 vehicles, to be accessed from the alley to the west.

The first design review is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 at Seattle University’s Admissions & Alumni Building, 824 12th Ave.

The podium footprint would be about 8,000 square feet, and about 4,500 square feet of retail/commercial space would face Ninth.

Units would range from about 318 to 872 square feet. Total project size is estimated at 151,000 square feet.

The rooftop would have a dog run, terraces and enclosed party room. There would also be tenant amenity areas on the fourth floor, with terraces above the three-story podium.

The building would rise 300 feet above Ninth.

The site has high-rise zoning. It’s between Marion and Columbia streets, on the east side of the block, across the alley from the site where Daniels Real Estate is planning 800 Columbia, a 30-story condominium tower. The two towers would be separated above the podium level by about 26 feet.

The 815 Ninth tower would be uphill from 800 Columbia, so their rooflines would be almost the same height. However, 815 Ninth’s west-facing units would have no views.

Daniels has said that he hoped to start construction on 800 Columbia this summer, with Turner as his general contractor. LMN is the architect. About 270 units are planned. Most if not all of the permits have been issued.

Hewitt is also listed as the landscape architect for 815 Ninth.

Members of the 815 Ninth ownership LLC previously developed two mid-rise projects in the University District: Verve Flats at 4302 Seventh Ave. N.E., and Ori Apartments at 5260 University Way N.E. Both projects were sold before construction commenced.