Second Avenue has been a mixed bag. Snuggled between Westlake Center and the Pike Place Market, Second Avenue has a reputation of being seedy with transients, a pawn shop, sex shops, etc.
When 1521 (multi-million condos) was announced, there was quiet of bit of murmuring on blogs and forums about building an upscale project in the middle of a shabby section of Second Avenue. Some wondered what was the developer thinking while others accepted that it’s part of the urban downtown lifestyle.
But, that is changing; Second Avenue is being remade. In a few years the seediness will be a faint memory as a new class of people take over. In addition to 1521, just up the street at Second & Pine another upscale project is planned that will include a new hotel brand. A block to the south at Second & Pike, yet another high-rise condominium is being proposed by Urban Visions.
Urban Visions is also looking to purchase the Liberty Building on Pike, between First and Second Avenues (adjacent to 1521). The building is home to Liberty Jewelry & Loan (a pawn shop & current building owner) and a grocery store selling malt liquor. An X-rated bookstore tenant has since moved out. Urban Visions is considering demolishing the 2-story building to make way for another residential tower.
All this, of course, bodes well for future condo owners and residents. It will also seemlessly connect the retail core to the Pike Place Market to the waterfront.
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