For more details, click here! 

SEATTLE, April 10 – Carpenter’s Tower, LLC, the owner of the 25-story McGuire Apartments in the Belltown area of Seattle, today announced plans to vacate the building at Second Avenue and Wall Street over the next several months due to extensive construction defects which are financially impractical to repair.

“While there are no imminent tenant safety issues, the experts involved in the investigation and repair of the building have indicated that there will be structural issues that could present safety issues by 2011 and beyond,” said Brian Urback, with Kennedy Associates, the real estate advisor for Carpenter’s Tower.  ”The McGuire is not in imminent danger of a structural failure and the experts have advised that the building be vacated by the end of 2010.  Under the circumstances, we are taking steps to vacate the building over the next several months and to help our tenants relocate.   Since the necessary repairs are impractical, the decision of the owner is to dismantle the building.”

The building owner has informed officials at the Seattle Department of Planning and Development (DPD) of the extensive construction defects, which principally involve corrosion of post-tensioned cables and concrete material and reinforcement placement deficiencies.  The post-tensioned cables are corroding because the ends of the cables were not properly protected with corrosion preventative paint, and the grout used to seal the cable ends and anchors was not the specified non-shrink grout and was defectively installed.  As a result, water leaked into these areas and caused the cable ends to rust, and then corrode.  In addition, reinforcement placement in the building’s exterior frame is defective, resulting in cracking and spalling of concrete, as well as structural impairment.

DPD has written a letter indicating it will issue an order later this year finding the building no longer safe to occupy and requiring the owner to “correct the unsafe conditions or vacate the building by December 31, 2010, or earlier.”  The letter also indicates that the city is “requiring that the owner monitor the building condition and periodically submit inspection reports to DPD.”

“We are providing an incentive package to help our tenants relocate much faster than the end of the year,” Urback said.  ”We recognize that this is a major inconvenience so we are trying to make it as easy as possible under difficult circumstances.  We are providing what we think are generous financial incentives if they move quickly.  We are paying moving expenses.  And we are having our building staff help them find new apartments.”

Carpenter’s Tower is owned by Carpenters Union, Local 131, and by MEPT, the Multi-Employer Property Trust.  Construction of the McGuire was completed in 2001.  There are 272 residential apartments and four street-level retail spaces in the building.  Carpenter’s Tower has filed suit against the general contractor responsible for the construction of the building and against the building’s architects.

SOURCE Kennedy Associates Real Estate Counsel, LP

Sitting across the street from Olive8 Condominiums, The Olivian Apartments (809 Olive Way) have started advertising vacancies for their 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 2 bedroom + den floorplans.

As of yesterday, the prices are being quoted at:

1 bedrooms: $1799 - $2552 per month (753 to 1042 SF) http://www.seattlerentals.com/11455
2 bedrooms: $2850 per month (1287 SF) http://www.seattlerentals.com/11456
2 bedroom + dens: $6000 per month (1916 SF) http://www.seattlerentals.com/11458

Here are some marketing comments:
With its monumental presence, high design and luxurious amenities, The Olivian caters to those who crave more from life. It’s easily the most anticipated luxury leasable residence to appear in downtown Seattle in years, taking high-rise living to new heights.

Select from a variety of floor plans, all with open layouts and expansive window walls. This 27-story modern tower features luxuriously appointed two bedroom + den residences as well as exclusive penthouse residences. You choose what best fits your personality!

I have yet to tour The Olivian, but will be visiting Rollin Street Flats (a neighboring condo-to-apartment conversion) tomorrow – stay tuned!

Last week I was interviewed by Angela King at Q13 about current rental market conditions and it looks like it surfaced this morning- click here for the entire clip!

I am glad the interview came up when it did because our rental market has been severely impacted by the decrease in sales activity and financial crisis.  Hundreds upon hundreds of owners in the Seattle area have recently taken their condos and homes off the sales market and placed them into the rental pool in hopes of benefiting from our “stellar” rental market…but only to find out they are about 4-5 months too late.

Every Monday morning, SRG agents get together to discuss market trends/experiences and for the past 3 months, we have all been feeling the pressure of an oversupply, decrease in demand, and the dreaded reduction in rental rates.  I personally started to feel this crunch in August when there were a couple properties that just wouldn’t move- properties that would have leased for $2500 months prior (and in mere weeks) were below $2000 and still sitting.

Here are a couple issues that come up during our discussions, please feel free to comment or contact me with questions.

Tightened Pocketbooks: Due to the financial strain and economic state, renters have definitely been paying more attention to their bottomline and planning for the worst.  The most common scenario is that people are trying to consolidate and downsize in order to rent a 1 bedroom + den instead of needing a 2 bedroom or a townhouse instead of a home.  Renters are more price sensitive than ever and in some cases lower rental rates are the motivating factor rather than quality of building or home finishes- could come down to a difference of $50!

Apartments vs Condos/Homes: We have two rental markets- the private market with individually owned condos and homes, and the apartment rental market.

One of the challenges the private market has in competing with the larger apartment buildings is the ability to offer specials like “1-2 Months FREE” or “waived security deposits.”  Private landlords have the flexibility to reduce the rental rates to compensate tenants for such specials but in no way should reduce standard security deposits as they take on more liability when renting their property.

Some advantages the private market has is that the monthly rental amount often includes utilities, parking and additional storage.  These items are covered in HOA dues and therefore passed down to the tenant in a lump sum or included in the monthly rental amount.  This is easily missed by renters when searching so be sure to clarify what is included!

Note: Over 6600 apartment units are supposed to come on the market in 2009 and even more in 2010- just one of the many items discussed at the IREM Forecast Breakfast last Friday.  One of the better Forecast Breakfasts I have attended!

Where Are All the Renters? What we could be experiencing right now is an extreme case of the cyclical blues in combination with all the above.  We are approaching the dead of winter and typically Spring and Summer are the most common months for moving- so lets just hope that activity bursts in March!  We are seeing signs of this and have been getting a lot of inquiries for Feb/March move-ins…just hoping that the properties available NOW, don’t have to wait that long.

So in short, we are advising all of our clients to be market sensitive and price aggressive.  Renters have been starting their searches a lot earlier than in the past (1-3 month prior to their desired move-in) and rental rate negotiations are occurring left and right.

I hate to be a total pessimist so I will depart on this note… although this all may sound grim, relative to other markets, Seattle is still amongst the top in the nation!

This past Sunday, The Times featured a worth-mentioning piece on the stalled condominium and apartment buildings downtown Seattle and Bellevue.  With over 23 projects in Seattle alone, the lack of construction financing is the number one contributing factor for the dead sites. 

1. 151 John Street (17 Apartments, 1st & John)
2. Icon (283 Condominiums, 6th & Denny)
3. Insignia (646 Condominiums, 5th & Battery)
4. 2030 8th Ave (230 Condominiums, 8th & Lenora)
5. Stewart & Minor Lofts (150 Apartments/160-Room Hotel)
6. 7th & Westlake (365 Condominiums/342,000 SF Office)
7. 1800 Terry Ave (261 Retirement Apartments, Terry & Howell)
8. 2nd & Bell (102 Apartments)
9. 2700 Elliott Ave (100 Condominiums, Elliott & Cedar)
10. The Martin (170 Condominiums, 5th & Lenora)
11. AVA (236 Condominiums/190-Room Hotel, 8th & Pine)
12. 1519 Minor Ave (80 Condominiums, Minor & Pine)
13. Art House (140 Condominiums, Elliott & Battery)
14. Western & Blanchard (113 Condominiums)
15. Heron & Pagoda Towers (400 Condominiums/200-Room Hotel/267,000 SF Office, 5th & Virginia)
16. 2000 3rd Ave (441 Apartments/40-Room Hotel, 3rd & Virginia)
17. 1915 2nd Ave (175 Condominiums, 2nd & Virginia)
18. 1 Hotel & Residences (51 Condominiums/44 Suites/192-Room Hotel, 2nd & Stewart)
19. SkyGarden (116 Condominiums, First Hill)
20. 5th & Columbia Tower (760,000 SF Office)
21. Colman Center (170,000 SF Office, Pioneer Square)
22. Smith Tower Condo Conversion (12 Condominiums, 2nd Ave & Yesler)
23. 200 Occidental Ave S (62 Condominiums/130,000 SF Office, Pioneer Square)

The total is close to 4,200 residential dwellings! Click here to read more.

Thanks Em!

Vulcan plans a 330-unit apartment building on most of the block in South Lake Union between Harrison and Republican streets and Pontius and Yale Avenues North. The century-old Supply Laundry building, also on the block, will be preserved and renovated as part of the project.

Click here to read more from the Times and DJC!

HSC/Riverstone Residential Group just posted a couple ads on SeattleRentals.com for the NEW Moda Apartments in Belltown (2312 3rd Avenue):

- Studios: $1225 to $1695 per month, 251 to 474 SF
- 1 bedrooms: $1250 to $1825 per month, 467 to 546 SF
- 2 bedrooms: $1925 to $2175 per month, 530 to 631 SF

For those of you not familiar with the project, Moda was originally built as condominiums. When the sales office opened two years ago (this week), buyers stood in line to snag one of the 251 efficiency units, BUT despite the “sold-out” building status, last month the developer G. David Hoy (HMI Real Estate Inc. ) announced that market conditions and financing hurdles would prevent a sizable amount of buyers from the possibility of closing on their homes. Now, we have Moda Apartments…completion is set for October!

Sorry I am a little behind with this one but it is definitely worth mentioning…I lived in the Sidney Apartments when first moving into Belltown and loved the location (4th and Wall), building and staff. If you are looking for an apartment in Belltown, check it out!

So the news…the founders of Sierra Entertainment (a video game developer and publisher) have purchased the building for $40.6M ($317,187 per unit). The last recorded sale was $17.8M in 2000, Intracorp finished building in 2001 and the building is now comprised of 6 stories with 128 units (studios, one, one + and two bedrooms). Click here to read more…

Come spring 2009, AvalonBay Communities will begin building an apartment complex on the west side of Lower Queen Anne between Harrison and West Thomas St. on 3rd Ave W- Avalon Queen Anne. The building is slated to accommodated approximately 200 units, 247 parking stalls, 5,000 SF of retail space and will be designed by GGLO. After construction starts the building will take about 18 months to be completed and cost about $60 million to build.

AvalonBay had been building about one apartment complex in the Northwest every three years, but are wanting to create a larger presence in our market. Avalon Queen Anne is one of 3, possibly 4 apartment buildings that will be built in the next two years…the others will be built in Kirkland, Bellevue and Ballard! Click here to read more.

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!