The Seattle Condo Blog

GIS International announced they’re putting European Tower on the back burner due to current economic conditions. The exclusive one-home-per-floor tower currently has reservations for 6 of its 16 homes available which start at $2 million. The developer plans to wait till late this year before moving forward.

GIS is also the developer of the Stewart & Minor hotel and loft project in Denny Triangle. There hasn’t been any movement or information on that project since last Autumn. Given the news regarding European Tower, it’s likely Stewart and Minor went into deep freeze along with number of other downtown condo projects.

Source: DJC

The Seattle Condo Tour (website) is taking place this coming Saturday and Sunday, April 5th & 6th. The tour starts at 11:00 AM from Fisher Plaza at the corner of 5th Avenue & Denny Way. Additionally, seminars will be held both days during tour hours at Fisher Plaza.

The Bravern (website) will be celebrating the Grand Opening of its presentation center this weekend. The 7,000 sq ft center features a fully furnished Condominium Estate model home, City Home model kitchen and bath vignettes, a complete architectural site model of The Bravern community and expanded interactive virtual tours and displays from a select group of The Bravern’s premier retailers and restaurateurs.

The presentation center is located at the Skyline Tower at 10900 NE 4th Street, Suite 1510 in Bellevue.

Bellevue’s Essex on the Park (website) announced they have released an initial set of homes available for reservations. The initial release will include just 16 condominium homes with the remainder being held back until completion in 2010. Essex will be hosting special design preview events on April 8th, 9th and 10th for individuals who previously registered on their website.

Essex will rise just 9-stories featuring 32 two- and three-bedroom homes that range in size from 1,100 to 2,700 sq ft. Prices for Essex homes start from $800,000 and will likely top more than $3,000,000.

Following Olive 8’s lead Bellevue Towers is now offering a price protection guarantee to new buyers. This program guarantees that the price of a home purchased now will be appropriately adjusted at closing if similar homes are subsequently sold for less than the current list price.

In addition, Bellevue Towers is offering a limited-time rate lock promotion. For homes purchased in March and April they’ll lock interest rates for free. Alternatively, buyers can apply the rate lock cost (approximately 1% of the purchase price) to buy down rates or apply it to closing costs.

Bellevue Towers report they just poured the 38th floor and expect to top off the project in another two months.

Illustration of Bellevue Towers’ roof top Urban Garden designed by Walker-Macy.

Vida Condominium (website) has just released a rendering of the proposed project which will include 238 flats and loft homes. Vida is anticipating holding design preview events in early 2008 where buyers will have their first opportunity to view initial floor plans, interior finishes as well as architectural and landscaping design inspirations. The developer is currently in the permitting stage and is expecting to begin construction in 2008.

For additional information about this project, please see our previous Vida Condo post.

One Main Street

One Main Street (website) will be hosting its sales center Grand Opening this weekend at 136 - 120th Avenue SE, Bellevue. The sales center will be open to the public from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

There is also a special brokers open on Thursday, Oct 18th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

The latest luxury condominium project in downtown Bellevue’s ever changing landscape is One Main Street (website) located at 10020 Main Street (map).

The mid-rise One Main Street will feature 62 one-, two- and three-bedroom residences that’ll range in price from the $400,000s to more than $1 million. The project will also include retail on the street level and is located within blocks to the Downtown Park and Meydenbauer Park.

Interior features will include:

• 9′ ceilings with floor-to-ceiling windows
• SieMatic self-closing cabinets
• Natural cherry or walnut hardwoods
• Spa style baths with radiant heated floors, heated towel racks and extra-deep soaking tubs
• Wireless video touch-screen devices to view visitors when they buzz your residence
• Bosch stainless steel appliances
• Fireplace and air-conditioning

A presentation center will open in the fall but One Main Street will be hosting a “Premier Sales Event” that is planned for October 20th and 21st from 11 AM to 6 PM. The Presentation Center is located at 136 - 120th Avenue SE.

The project is slated for completion in December 2008.

One Main Street is promoting itself as a luxury condominium and it will certainly be well appointed. Though, it does not quite meet the same level of luxury as the high-rises being developed in the downtown core, which is good. It’ll provide potential homeowners greater options for downtown Bellevue living.

Update Oct 2008: Tonsing Development is proceeding on the project as an apartment rather than a condominium.

With most of Bellevue’s new condo developments focusing on the very high-end market, it’s refreshing to see a developer offering a more reasonably priced option for condo buyers. Proposed by Colorado developer Tonsing Properties, the Vida Condominium (website), located in downtown Bellevue, will offer 238 homes within its 12-story structure. Prices are expected to range from $300,000 to over $800,000, though most of the homes will be available between $350,000 and $450,000.

One way the developer is able to offer homes at these price points is by reducing the size of the units which will likely range from 400 to 850 square feet. In many ways, Vida is reminiscent of the Moda Condominium project in Belltown. Moda provided an affordable alternative with homes ranging from a very cozy 300 square feet to about 1,000 square feet. Moda was a hit with buyers and sold out within a couple of weeks.

Bellevue is realizing significant job growth, particularly with technical and professional workers with the expansion of Microsoft and Google, who will be perfect homeowner candidates for a project such as Vida.

Vida will be hosting design preview events later this fall, along with an updated website, providing prospective buyers an opportunity to view architectural designs, floor plans, views and finishes. The events will also provide buyers an opportunity to reserve a home.

Be sure to check back later as we’ll provide more information as it becomes available. Vida is expected to be completed in 2009.

View early renderings of Vida. Designs are not final and subject to change.

Developed by Schnitzer West, the Bravern Signature Residences (website) is one of several upscale high-rise condominium projects under construction that are transforming Bellevue’s skyscape.

Located in the heart of downtown Bellevue (map) , adjacent to the Meydenbauer Center, the Bravern Signature Residences will encompass two 29-story towers featuring more than 450 residential condominium homes. The homes are divided into distinct formats, similar to 1 Hotel & Residences & AVA, which include City Homes, Condominium Estates and Penthouses.

The City Homes feature open one- and two bedroom units that range in size from 625 to more than 1,200 square feet. Prices start from the $400,000s to more than $1.5 million.

The Condominium Estates feature one, two- and three-bedroom homes that range in size from 1,000 to more than 2,000 square feet. The Condominium Estates are expects to be priced from $900,000s to more than $4 million.

The Penthouses offer spacious city living with homes ranging in size from 3,000 to over 5,000 square feet.

The Bravern has received over 200 priority reservations (homes may be reserved with a $10,000 refundable deposit). Until the sales center and model homes are completed later this year, reservations holders will be able to preview floor plans, finishes, views and introductory pricing at a private Preview Gallery. Currently, the Bravern is taking reservations in the north tower known as One Bravern Court. Homes will be released for sale this coming winter.

The residential towers are expected to be completed around winter of 2009/2010 and will be part of a larger project consisting of two office towers and signature retail stores and restaurants, including Neiman Marcus. Microsoft is expected to occupy the office towers.

The next stop on our Bellevue tour is European Tower (website) located at 930 109th Ave NE. Of all the new condominium projects in Bellevue and Seattle, European Tower is destined to be the most exclusive and distinctive.

Developed by Russian-based GIS International Group, the 17-story tower will be home to only 16 chic condominium homes, just one home per floor with a two-level penthouse.

With its European heritage, the developers have created a very modern and sleek residential property. Based on renderings, the home designs are open with clean lines and include stylish imported finishes and European fittings.

Each two-bedroom home features a separate den area, 360-degree panoramic views, two decks, two elevators and two spaces in the underground mechanical garage. Residents drive into the secured car port area and the automated garage whisks the vehicle away and stores it in a space underneath the building.

Residents will also enjoy memberships at three exclusive Bellevue clubs - The Harbor Club, Pro Sports Club and the Bellevue Club.

The property is located just blocks from Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square and the upcoming retail development at Bravern which will include a Neiman-Marcus store.

Homes are priced from around $2 million and higher. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about this project.

Open Living & Dining area

View from master suite

Landes Condo Tango:

I noticed the Landes disappeared from the Williams-Marketing website but knew the project was moving forward. So, I contacted the developer to get the scoop. Presently, the developer is undecided whether to market the project as apartments or condos, though they are constructing units with condo-grade finishes. A decision is expected to be made by Summer. Interesting….

The Bellevue Tour:

Loyal readers will have noticed that we skipped across Lake Washington. Bellevue has several interesting and unique projects on the way, many far more ambitious than their Seattle counterparts. In the upcoming weeks we will continue our tour of Bellevue with European Tower, The Residences at Bravern and Belle Arts.

Recycle for Shelter Pets:

Though the Seattle Animal Shelter is a city-run facility, the funds for necessary veterinarian care for homeless and uncared for pets brought to the shelter are provided through Help The Animal Fund (HTAF). Supported by donations, HTAF holds fundraising events throughout the year from bake sales to the Furry 5K Run at Seward Park.

A unique opportunity has become available through the Cash for Critters program. Cash for Critters takes in empty ink jet & laser cartridges and digital phones, and in turn, provides cash for non-profit animal organizations. The good folks at Metro Dog will be facilitating the program on behalf of the Seattle Animal Shelter. Please see the Cash for Critters website for acceptable cartridges and drop them off at Metro Dog.