Oct 22nd

Enso Tour Follow-up!

Categories: Commercial Space, Enso, Green, Luxury Properties For Sale, New Construction, Real Estate News, South Lake Union

Last Friday, a colleague and I toured Enso- was pretty exciting!  I have to say that the prices seem very reasonable for the square footages, finishes and views.  One of the things that surprised me was the amazing use of space…all the floorplans seem a lot bigger than what they actually are on paper.  We toured a smaller open 1 bedroom at 683 SF, and I could have sworn the space felt more like 800+ SF.The finishes are top notch…Bosch appliances, hardwood/bamboo flooring, concrete/honed granite countertops and beautiful Eggersmann German cabinetry- comes with quite the background story and just proves how much effort Vulcan put forth in finding sustainable and renewable materials. 

As for the views- this property is all about the city lights!  There are unobstructed views of the Space Needle and Lake Union but you will be dazzled when touring the property in the evening…amazing! 

As for amenities…the resident lobby is very welcoming and accessible from the Blanchard side of the building where there will be a concierge sitting during extended business hours.  The clubroom has an amazing kitchen, lounge & TV area…complete with a sun deck and industrial-sized BBQ.  The fitness room is well equipped and located in a very large and open space overlooking the city skyline.

If you ask me, I think Enso is going to be a great addition to the South Lake Union community!  

Click here to read more about Enso’s LEED Gold certification

Click here to visit the official website 

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Oct 12th

2201 Westlake & Enso- Earn LEED Gold Certification!

Categories: Commercial Developments, Condominiums, Enso, Green, New Construction, Occupancy 2010, South Lake Union

Just in….AND I hope to tour the building in the next day or two!  For more details on Enso, click here.

SEATTLE – October 12, 2009 – Characterized by its innovative environmental and sustainable features, the 2201 Westlake development in South Lake Union now represents Seattle’s first mixed-use and high-rise residential project to earn prestigious LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Developed by Vulcan Real Estate, 2201 Westlake was designed and constructed from the ground up using sustainable development practices. As a LEED Gold-certified project, 2201 Westlake exemplifies sustainable innovations that promote energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, eco-friendly materials selection and alternative transit options as part of a healthier workplace and living environment.

“With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO & Founding Chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, 2201 Westlake is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”

Designed by Callison, the 450,000-square-foot mixed-use project includes 300,000 square feet of high-performance, Class A office space, 135 luxury condominiums known as Enso, 25,000 square feet of street-level retail amenities, underground parking and open green space.  The development is located on the bustling corner of Westlake Ave. N and Denny Way in South Lake Union, directly on the Seattle Streetcar line.   The project was completed in July 2009.

“Earning LEED Gold status for 2201 Westlake represents an important milestone in Vulcan’s commitment to sustainability,” said Ada M. Healey, vice president of real estate at Vulcan Inc. “As a state-of-the-art sustainable, transit-oriented development, 2201 Westlake provides long-term value not only for its tenants and residents, but also for the greater community.”

Highlights of 2201 Westlake’s sustainable features include:

*Unparalleled proximity to public transit options –Seattle Streetcar stop directly in front of project, connecting tenants throughout South Lake Union, downtown core, regional transit hubs and light rail service
*Bicycle storage and racks, locker rooms with shower stalls, four Zipcars located within two blocks of the project and five bus lines within ¼ mile of the site

*Innovative underfloor energy-efficient delivery system of heating, cooling and ventilation provides office users with more control over the air and temperature in their individual spaces, enhancing employee comfort and productivity

*Shared high performance central energy plant with adjacent residential condominium tower that utilizes waste heat and cooling from the office space for other retail and residential uses

*Extensive use of recycled and rapidly renewable materials, low VOC paints and carpets

*Construction recycling and salvaging plan diverted nearly75% of non-hazardous construction waste from landfills 

*Native, drought tolerant landscaping

*Water-efficient dual-flush water closets, low-flow urinals, faucets and showers designed to reduce potable water use by 35%

*Site landscaping complies with Seattle Green Streets Program, increasing pedestrian space and open green space while helping providing habitat and shade cover with large trees and native shrubs  

*Exterior glass curtain wall with low solar heat gain properties provides more natural daylight than traditional office buildings 

The 2201 Westlake project team includes: Vulcan Real Estate (owner and developer); O’Brien & Company (LEED consultant); Callison (architect and interior designer); Sellen Construction (general contractor); Cary Kopczynski & Co. (structural engineer); Magnusson Klemencic and Associates (civil engineer); Glumac (mechanical/electrical engineer) and Berger Partnership (landscape architect).

A cornerstone of Vulcan’s South Lake Union redevelopment efforts is to foster an entire neighborhood that embraces sustainability on all fronts – from buildings and parks to public transportation and green streetscapes. Vulcan is working with the City of Seattle to create one of the first certified green neighborhoods in the nation in South Lake Union, which has been accepted into the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Neighborhood Development (ND) pilot program. The LEED ND program promotes the location and design of neighborhoods that reduce reliance on cars, provide convenient access to jobs and services by walking or public transit, and promote more efficient energy and water use.

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Apr 23rd

Discovery Center at SLU- One of the Top 10 Green Projects in the U.S.

Categories: Enso, Green, Real Estate News, Rollin Street, South Lake Union, Veer Lofts

The American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment announced their picks for the Top 10 Green Projects in the country for 2008 and Seattle’s Discovery Center in South Lake Union was one of the projects selected.

The Discovery Center was designed by Miller/Hull Partnership, constructed with more than 80% of environmentally friendly and recycled materials and completed in 2005. If you haven?t visited the center it is located on the corner of Denny and Westlake (101 Westlake Ave), houses the sales offices for Rollin Street Flats, Veer Lofts and Enso, and also has tons of information about the future of South Lake Union.

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Mar 13th

Seattle Condo Tour: April 5th & 6th

Categories: Condominiums, Enso, Lumen, Nightlife/Social Events, Real Estate News, Rollin Street, Trio, Veer Lofts


For those of you, wanting a chance to visit some of the newer condominium projects in Downtown, Fisher Communications is holding its 2nd annual Seattle Condo Tour April 5th & 6th.

The tour will officially start at Fisher Plaza, participants will be shuttled to and from the condominiums, and those who visit 6 or more properties will be eligible to win a variety of prizes. The tour hours are from 10am-6pm, there will be public seminars hosted by industry professionals throughout both days and it is FREE!

Participating Properties (Seattle):
25 on the Park
Burien Town Square
Enso
Lumen
Rollin Street Flats
Sylvan Ridge

Trio
Veer Lofts
WestWater

This year, the Seattle Condo Tour will also be visiting the Eastside April 12th & 13th. Click here for more information!

Participating Properties (Eastside):
The Approach
Arrington Place
Bellevue Towers
Champagne
Horizon Village at Somerset

The Martine
One main street
Tanglewood
Trail Walk
Woodsong at Coal Creek

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Jul 19th

Sales Approaching Second Phase: Veer Lofts, Rollin Street Flats & Enso

Categories: Enso, Green, Lofts, New Construction, Real Estate News, Rollin Street, South Lake Union, Veer Lofts

I just got word that the initial sales phase is about to end on the 31st of this month AND come August 1st we should expect price increases and reduced inventory for Veer Lofts, Rollin Street Flats and Enso.

They will be removing some of the homes from the market until a later date so if you are thinking of purchasing new construction in South Lake Union, now may be the time to secure the perfect floorplan at the best pricing possible!

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Feb 26th

South Lake Union Mix-up over Mix-use

Categories: Commercial Developments, Enso, New Construction, Real Estate News, South Lake Union

While showing condos at Live2200, one of the most common questions asked when staring at the southwest corner of Denny and Westlake is “What is going on over there?” Could it be Rollin Street Flats? Veer Lofts? 2201 Westlake? Even the Seattle Times most recently had trouble reporting the actual project in print! Just to clear everything up, the development is indeed 2201 Westlake and Enso, a 450,000 sq. ft mixed-use project. Enso will be 19 stories tall with over 135 luxury condominiums and 2201 Westlake will feature 300,000 sq. ft of office space and 25,000 sq ft of retail reaching 12 stories. Sellen Construction is currently getting the lot ready for excavation by driving pilings into the ground for structure support. The completion date for this project is set for early 2009.

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