What once was Expo62 Condominiums is now Axis Apartments!  Located on the border of lower Queen Anne and Belltown at 123 2nd Ave, Axis is just steps away from the Key Arena, Seattle Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, The Experience Music Project, Boeing IMAX Theater, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall and the Pacific Northwest Ballet.  If you are looking for easy access to the waterfront-Myrtle Edwards Park, Olympic Sculpture Park, HWY 99, I-5 or downtown by bus- this location will be perfect for you!

Axis will soon be BUILT SMART certified by Seattle City Light and BUILD GREEN certified from the Master Builders Association. There are 7 stories and floorplans range from 459 square foot studios to 1,762 square foot 2 bedroom/2 bath penthouses.  Studios are priced starting at $1175, 1 bedrooms at $1450 and 2 bedrooms at $1810, most offering granite countertops, stainless steel appliances with gas stoves, hardwood floors and fireplaces.

The building itself offers a lobby with a mezzanine and library, a theater room, 24-hour fully equipped fitness center, business center and a rooftop garden with a pet care center!

Click here to visit the Axis Apartment website!

After recently placing the site next to the Cristalla (NW corner of 2nd and Virginia) on the market FOR SALE, The Justen Company and Columbia West Properties just released their latest designs for the proposed condominium project…guess they have changed their minds! 

The Design Review Board will be having a meeting tomorrow, 5:30pm at City Hall.  If you are interested in attending, here is the scoop:

City Hall
600 4th Ave/ 601 5th Ave
Boards and Commission Room L280
* After 6pm, you will need to use the 5th Ave entrance.  If the 5th Ave entrance is locked, press red button for security guard and use the center elevators to access L280.

For those of you living at the Cristalla, there is a rather large packet at the front desk for you to view renderings and the specifics about the project.  Will keep you posted! 

Kerry Sear, the owner and chef of Cascadia Restaurant in Belltown is selling the space where the restaurant is located (2328 First Ave- 1st between Bell and Battery) and transitioning to the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences to become the executive chef of the hotel and director of food and beverage for the hotel and residences.

The restaurant is listed for $1.25 million but Sear is not interested in selling the name or menu.  Prior to owning and operating Cascadia, Sear spent 15 years working with Four Seasons in Vancouver B.C, Toronto and Seattle, and will continue to focus on Northwest cuisine with ingredients from local markets, ranchers and farmers.

Cascadia will remain open until the space sells so if you are looking forward to their awesome Happy Hour (mini-burgers, my fav) on a beautiful summer evening…you better not waste anytime!

- Click here to view more details and photos!

I receive tons of email flyers daily for properties all over Puget Sound but this one caught my eye…

If you are looking for an office/retail space in Belltown, you may want to check this out! 

Located right on the corner of 5th and Vine in the Montreux, this 565 SF space offers two separate offices, a lobby area and powder room.  Although the square footage is a little small, the price is right and could be a perfect match for a startup!

- MLS #27212503
- 425 Vine Street #C
- $5000 Buyer Bonus at Closing
- Click here for more information! 

Recently homeowners on the southside of the Cristalla and eastside of One Pacific Tower have expressed some concern about the proposed project on the north and south corner of 2nd and Virginia.  I was able to take a peak at the design review proposal and although views (and daylight!) definitely will be impacted by the project, I think that rebuilding the 2nd Ave strip is a must for such a prime location.    

The “twin” towers, designed by Weber+Thompson and developed by Justen Company, LLC will join the Cristalla, 1915 Second Ave and 1521 Second Ave to create “a five-building assemblage that will reshape the skyline behind the market district.”

South Tower
1931 2nd Ave
38 floors total- 10 floors hotel/lobby (117 rooms) & 28 floors residential (185 condominiums)

North Tower
2015 2nd Ave
39 floors total- 6 floors lobby/retail & 33 floors residential (234 condominiums)

1915 2nd Ave
24 floors total- Street level retail & 175 condominiums developed by Intracorp

Other projects just blocks away are One Residences (2nd & Pine), Escala (4th & Virginia), The Alex (1st and Bell) and a 43 story apartment building on 3rd & Virginia. 

In less than 5 days, my listing in the Cristalla (2bd+den, $4,300 per month) leased for asking price and for a year longer than the owners had anticipated- I didn’t even see it coming!

Over the past couple of weeks I have noticed that there are several current renters/former homeowners in the market for luxury rentals offering more than 1400 sq. feet and VIEWS.  Most are looking to give “urban living” a chance, are in the process of relocating or have recently sold their homes and are downsizing.   They all have had flexible price ranges and have had a hard time finding the perfect place that fit their needs. 

Currently there are only 10 listings in Belltown/Downtown over $3000 per month, 3 or 4 of which might work for someone looking for a modern and spacious rental (depending on how flexible they are with their budget!).  Click here for Craigslist listings.  Click here for NWMLS listings.