PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW OR UNDERWAY ON FIRST HILL - UPDATED 3/1/2008
Despite the recent economic downturn, First Hill continues to be a hot bed of development activity. NINE major developments are in planning or under construction on First Hill at this time, along with several major street use improvement projects. Together, these projects provide hundreds of new housing units,
THE "M STREET" PROJECT
That big hole in the ground at 8th and Madison is FINALLY gone! This mixed-use project, features medical office space and 220 residential units climbing 16-stories over the site. The 12,000 square foot "M Street Market" on the ground floor of the site gives the west side of First Hill a dedicated supermarket for the first time in years. The project was completed in early summer 2007.
PRESBYTERIAN RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES - 710 8th Avenue
Presbyterian Retirement Communities has pulled together properties owned by the Catholic Archdiocese and Trinity Episcopal Parish, and have come up with a major new retirement community. The project, located on the full block between 8th and 9th Avenues and Cherry and Columbia Streets, has several components, including low-rise townhouse units, and two towers, one rising 27-stories. One tower is located at 8th and Columbia, the other at 9th and Cherry. The project is 50% completed as of March 2008, with completion slated for Spring 2009.
BARCLAYS NW TOWER
Arca Architecture developed plans in 2006 for a 23-story condominium tower to be located at 1321 Seneca Street. The Design Review Board raised concerns about the landscaping for the site, as well as the height, bulk, and scale of the building. The pedestrian environment was also an issue of concern. The building has gone through the Design Review Process, and Arca sold the project to Barclays NW recently. Current plans call for 97 high-end apartment or condominium units. Speculation is that the project is on hold while the City considers proposals for increased height limits in the neighborhood. This would allow for a much taller, more economically viable project.
HARBOR PROPERTIES - 901 8th Avenue
This project broke ground in fall 2007, and is slated for completion in October 2008. This 7-story building will have ground floor retail, 81 apartment units, and several live/work lofts.
OPUS NW PROJECT AT 7th and MADISON
This commercial building with ground level retail will be at the gateway to First Hill, right next to I-5 at 904 7th Avenue. The project is currently under construction, and is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2009. The nine-story tall building will have 194,000 sq. ft. of non-medical office space.
802 SENECA STREET
This major project by LevinsMenzies features a 25-story structure containing 285 units along with a 9 story tower with 25 units. The project will be marketed either as condominiums or luxury apartments, depending upon market conditions. Construction begins in July 2008.
1200 MADISON STREET
This project replaces the former US Bank Building at Madison and Minor with a 16-story tower containing 241 apartment units. Permiting is currently in progress, and construction is anticipated to start later this year.
1201 TERRY AVENUE
The former Northcliffe Apartment building is replaced by a 9-story, 250,000 sq ft hospital expansion for Virginia Mason Medical Center. Construction is underway, with completion scheduled for early 2010.
801 9TH AVENUE
Construction is scheduled to begin in Summer 2008 on this 6-story building with 56 units of housing for substance-abuse treatment.
