The Seattle Condo Blog

On the Horizon

Eastlake area - Ruby Condominiums (website) at northern tip of Eastlake Ave E at E. Allison.

Lower Queen Anne - Luxe Condominiums (website) at 500 5th Ave W. Thirty-nine flats starting from the low $300,000s.

Escala Unveils Revamped Website

Escala unveiled a new website with additional features including home floor plans, an impressive virtual tour and a webcam.

Fini Preview Event Update

Fini’s VIP Preview Event will be held next weekend, May 5th & 6th from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM at their presentation center at 6802 Greenwood Ave N. (map). Homes will be available for purchase at the preview event with a 5% deposit.

Seattle Condo Expo 2007

Click here for updated event info.

The Seattle Condo Expo and Realtor Symposium is set for May 19th & 20th at the Westin Hotel. Tickets will go on sale on May 1st and those interested in attending can register on their website. The cost of the event is $10 and can be purchased at www.SeattleTixx.com.

Kiro Radio has several short podcasts of interviews with several leading individuals in the Seattle condo craze including the developers of AVA & 1 Hotel, Blaine Weber of Weber + Thompson, Dean Jones of Realogics and economist Matthew Gardner of Gardner-Johnson…to name a few.

The event has blossomed into a two-day expo with a consumer focus. Last year, it was a single evening event aimed towards Realtors. The change this year sounds like a great opportunity for the buyers to immerse themselves with various projects at a single location as well as provide an opportunity to meet with architects and developers.

Brix: April 13th, 6-8 PM

Brix is unveiling their redesigned presentation center at 700 Broadway Ave E. Buyers can now view a full-scale model home and chat with the developer & architect. Refreshments including locally-brewed Elysian Beer will be served.

Equinox: April 14th & 15th, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Equinox’s Public Grand Opening is slated for April 14th & 15th at their presentation center at 1500 Eastlake Ave (enter on 2nd level from Galer St). Buyers can view scale models, bath & kitchen vignettes and finishes. Refreshments will be served.

Azul Flats: April 14th & 15th, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

The Grand Opening for Azul Flats (website) in Fremont will be held the weekend of April 14th at 120 NW 39th St. This conversion includes 30 studio, one- and two-bedroom units ranging from the mid-$200,000s to high $400,000s.

Escala: April 21st, 5:00 PM

Escala announced they are a partner for PONCHO’s 45th Anniversary Gala at the Westin. Tickets for the black tie event, which includes the dinner and auction, is $400 per person and can be reserved at PONCHO.org.

PONCHO has gone on to raise over $30 million to support more than 170 local arts organizations. The key to its success has been an all-volunteer board of people who love the arts and are willing to do the hard work necessary to raise the money.

PONCHO has been instrumental in helping to create the venues and the performances that have earned Seattle the reputation of a community that fosters world class art in all its forms. There is no other organization in Seattle quite like it.

Equinox is a new condominium development just north of the junction of Eastlake Ave E and Fairview Ave E. This long awaited project is gearing up for home sales which will begin this month at their recently completed Presentation Center at 1500 Eastlake Ave E (Entrance on Galer St).

Equinox will feature 204 open one-bedroom (studio), one-bedroom , one+den, two-bedroom and two-level loft homes priced from the mid-$200,000s to over $1 million.

Encompassing nearly an entire block, the community will feature:

• Expansive roof-top decks
• Concierge & doorman
• Fitness center
• Great room w/large panel television and billiards
• Double & triple pane windows
• Views of Lake Union & downtown
• Higher-end finishes
• Hardwood floors
• Granite or stone countertops with undermount kitchen sinks
• Stainless Steel appliances (Fisher/Paykal refrigerator, Professional Frigidaire gas stoves and Bosch dishwashers)
• Three design finishes to choose from - Urban, Nature & Water
• One parking space per bedroom
• Additional storage & bike space
• Pet Friendly, 2 pet maximum

The building is situated between Eastlake Avenue and I-5. The rear portion of the building is essentially sitting right below I-5 and noise may be an issue. To address the noise, the builder will be installing triple pane windows. Though, if residents open windows or sliding glass doors, no doubt traffic noise from I-5 will permeate.

On the plus side, the Lake Union terminus of the Street Car will only be about a block away, providing residents with easy access through South Lake Union, to Whole Foods and Westlake Center.

Sales & Preview

Equinox is currently setting pre-sale appointments which will begin on March 24th on a first-come, first-served basis. Keep in mind, these are purchase, not reservation, appointments.

• A 5% deposit is required
• The Public Offering Statement and pricing will be available by the start of the purchase appointments
• Pre-approval through First Horizon Home Loans is required at time of purchase appointment
• No contingencies allowed (e.g. financing, home sale, etc)

The Presentation Center is now open and includes kitchen and bath vignettes, finish samples and a scale model of the property; an appointment is requested. The grand opening is scheduled for April 14th & 15th.

If you would like assistance and independent representation, please contact us. We would be happy to assist you.

View Amenities & Options (PDF)

Update 3/27/07 - Equinox reports a successful sales start. Eighty-five percent of buyers who had appointments during the first weekend purchased a unit.

To view more images:

Read the full story

Today must be project update / press release day. Here’s a round-up:

First Church - Capitol Hill

Postponing development to allow for a major motion picture to be filmed in the building. If you want a chance to be in the movie, there will be an open casting call on February 13th at the church from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The address is 1519 E. Denny Way (E. Denny & 16th Ave). Info on the movie.

Additionally, pre-sale pricing is available for those interested in purchasing a unit.

Lumen - Queen Anne

The glass curtain wall is nearly complete and work is continuing on the balconies and siding. In March, the Lumen will host a Modern Home Tour in conjunction with Seattle Metropolitan Magazine and Roche Bobois.

The Parc - Belltown

The Parc is 75% sold and owner occupancy is expected for late Spring.

Gallery - Belltown

Gallery reports that hundreds of buyers have visited their Presentation Center, though homes are still available including the two-story SkyLofts.

Escala - Midtown district

Escala was the highlight project at this year’s Downtown Seattle Association’s State of Downtown Economic Forum held this morning (I’ll report about it later). Soon after which the Escala ground breaking took place. The 12,000 sq ft Presentation Center will open to reservation holders in March.

1 Hotel & Residences - Downtown

Homes will be released for pre-sale to reservation holders in May.

Equinox - Eastlake

Over 2,300 people have registered online for the 204 unit project. Ground breaking is slated for Spring and registered buyers will be contacted this month to confirm their interest.

A new residential project has been proposed at the corner of Eastlake Ave. and E. Allison Street. The four-story building will incorporate 52 residential units and commercial space on the ground floor.

Equinox is gearing up for its pre-sale offering in Spring 2007. The 204-unit project at the south end of the Eastlake neighborhood is currently constructing its presentation center. The presentation center will include a scale model of the building, doll house models of the lobby and kitchen and bathroom vignettes, finish packages and floor plans.

The preferred lender for the project will be First Horizon Home Loans. A pre-approval from First Horizon will be required at time of purchase for reservation holders.

Information on sales and the opening of the presentation center is slated for Spring 2007. Visit the Equinox site at: www.EquinoxCondos.com.

Save the date for the Eastlake Lofts VIP Preview Event.

Thursday, September 14th
Eastlake Bar & Grill (upstairs)
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Interested buyers will have the opportunity to view floor plans, finishes and enjoy refreshments.

For more information about the Eastlake Lofts see our write up or view the official website.

The Eastlake Lofts is planned for the heart of the Eastlake neighborhood, on Eastlake Avenue between Lynn & Boston. Constructed of brick & concrete The Eastlofts will provide 18 one- and two-level loft homes.

Home features include:

• Many units offering sweeping views of Lake Union
• Private balconies or terraces
• Industrial loft character with oversized windows and soaring ceilings
• Concrete, steel and exposed brick construction
• Parking
• State-of-the-art kitchens with slab granite countertops
• Stainless steel appliance package with top-of-the-line gas range
• Full-size washer and dryer
• Gas fireplaces
• Secured garage with elevator
• Storage for each home

Prices range from $400,000s to the $800,000s. Pre-sales are expected to begin this Fall for an early 2007 occupancy. The Eastlake Lofts.

While most of the new developments are centered around the Downtown core, Equinox is placing itself in a rather established neighborhood…Eastlake. Its location will be in the south end at the corner of Eastlake and Fairview Avenues, near the terminus of the upcoming street car. It’s closer to the business area and I-5, but within walking distance to many of the restaurants and services at Lake Union.

The 204-unit Equinox wil be constructed of concrete and steel, unusual for a low-rise building and designed around a central, elevated courtyard. The “park-like” setting will include lush landscaping, a gas fire-pit for social gatherings and a free-standing glass enclosure that will house the concierge and owner’s lounge. Surrounding the courtyard will be a game/billiard room, over-sized tv, an exhibition-styled kitchen and dining room. Equinox is setting itself apart from other projects.

Homes styles include studios, one- and two-bedrooms, and two-level lofts ranging from 530 sf to nearly 1,500 sf. Standard features include custom cabinetry designed exclusively for Equinox, hardwood floors, triple-glazed windows and many units will have terraces.

Prices are expected to range from under $200,000 to over $1,000,000. A design preview is expected to occur this summer. Visit www.EquinoxCondos.com.