City gives Avalon Ballard official approval

Posted by Geeky Swedes on November 23rd, 2009

Avalon Ballard, the 233-unit apartment complex replacing Sunset Bowl, received its final clearance today from the City of Seattle.

Avalon Ballard at Market St. and 14th Ave. won design approval in April. Today, the city officially signed off on the design and concluded the project will not have any negative environmental impact (see .pdf document).

We noticed one small change from the previous design documents: the pattern on the west wall looks like this, instead of the previously-submitted checkerboard design. No word on when the Sunset will be demolished.

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Betsy

So the Safeway is getting a remodel too (a Starbucks in the existing garage)?

The vignettes look okay, but time will tell whether this will be another eyesore. Incidentally, you might enjoy this blog: google cheap sh*t condos (sorry for the expletive!)

lathum

As far as I know banks aren't in the landlord business. Homes that are foreclosed on will sit empty until sold to someone else.

Barney Stinson

No but investors looking to get housing on the cheap are in the landlord business.

How do you explain rents skyrocketing during the boom years?

lathum

Some are but not all. There are generations of young people who in the past may have bought their first house but instead are forced to rent. There are also people who have been forced to sell a home and now must rent. Plus all the people who are living in apartments that in the past may have bought a house are instead staying in their apartments.

lathum

Barney you clearly have no concept of basic economics.

The more people out there who can't afford to buy a home will have to rent. In our current market that is a high number of people. Since more people are looking to rent the less apartments will be available. The less of something there is the more valuable it becomes, hence, the price of rent will be on the rise.

Barney Stinson

Yeah you are right. All the reports of rents going down in Seattle are a bunch of hogwash.

Ever think that all the foreclosures are going lead to higher vacancy rates, and with no one available to buy they become rentals, thus increasing supply and lowering demand?

Not to mention all the supply that was built and never occupied in the first place because credit dried up before they could be sold.

98119

Aren't those who can't afford to buy a house already in an apartment?

Gene1

Type in "Ballard apts." on Craig's List and count how many are in the "trendy" Leva building, a property I believe was originally slated to be condos. It's starving for tenants and I foresee the same future for the boring blockade depicted above.

98119

Looks like some lucky residents will have a beautiful view of the drunks at the bar err... bus stop across the street.

Ben Wiseley

Such an unoriginal design. Boring architecture should be a crime.

SwedishG

The designs seem to be getting a little better. In my opinion, this trumps the Denny's debacle. I also like the new condo building across from the QFC on 24th. And even the QFC building is getting some nice touches.

Here's to a little positivity on a dark monday afternoon.

ballardmike

well - maybe this will help keep it affordable for more of our kids to stay in Ballard...

myballardreader

Woohoo more empty units in ballard......

Maurice Boneyard

How many spaces are they allowing for abandoned vans and trucks?

BarneyRubble

I see this putting downward pressure on rent prices in Ballard. Not sure what the occupancy of Leva is and with 300 more units above QFC on 24th...

NoraBell

That's a so far unproven theory. Unfortunately.

Barney Stinson

Based on what Nora?

The rent on my current apt prior to me moving in was almost identical to Leva, but now is much less.

I have seen nothing but rents dropping since the housing market collapsed. Over supply because of places like Leva helps too.

NoraBell

Well, my own. My rent has held steady recently, but a year ago it went up for the second time since I'd been here. My rent has not dropped. I don't know anyone who's rent has dropped.

Barney Stinson

That is because you are still living there. If you were to move out this month I would bet it would go down.

NoraBell

I've looked at ads on Craigs List for apartments, and have seen what the vacant apartments in my building are going for. It's a lot more than what I'm paying now. Unless you're in one of the new buildings they are having trouble filling your rent has not gone down a bit.

Barney Stinson

I am just saying I know they had to lower the rent of my current apt to garner interest in it. (not in one of the new buildings)

Ballardcrab

So, all the people that 'love' the new building - are you planning on moving in?

Punkateer

This makes sense. I love the opera house in Paris..so I guess I have to move in to prove it. Brilliant idea. The Airport in Copenhagen is sweet too. Which one should I move into!? ugh your flawless logic has me in a tizzy!

NEIGHB0R

Yes, I'm going to move in as many times as I can.

vylna

I'm not sure it's much an improvement from the checkerboard design.

at least with the old idea, my parkour friends and I could've engaged in some chess matches every now and again.

racerj67

OK. Why are Condo's or apartments "infernal"? Does anyone bother to check out ... how much more green condos and apartments are when compared to single family dwellings? We love green except when it means giant buildings and when its in my back yard. nice.

Meghan O'Connor

What I find humorous is how they portray people so casually crossing the street, as if it's not a terrible intersection for pedestrians to start with. And does that drawing mean they're taking out the streetlight?

phinneynotballard

yes, they are also taking out the traffic signals and by the looks of it, the Burger King .

NoraBell

They're going to be apartments and 'retail.' The way things are (and going to be for a long time yet) I don't see them being filled very quickly, either the apartments or the retail.
Much as I'd like to see something replacing the rotting corpse of Sunset Bowl I foresee replacing one empty building with another (albeit shinier) empty building.
I wish them luck.

SPG

I'll take the shiny one without the bums please.

Teddie

They always leave the vagrants out of these drawings....

Name

I was sad to see it go, but now that Sunset Bowl is gone, the building needs to be gone ASAP. Currently it's become infested with bums and car campers ... anything is better than that.

zack

Yikes. Don't see that pattern being fashionable in 10 years...

LBB

I don't see it being fashionable now! Yipes

Claude

Build it, the damage has already been done. Create jobs and bring more people with money to spend locally...

johnnybravo

i genuinely can't decide whether i prefer an abandoned bowling alley on that site or another infernal condo.

Punkateer

I genuinely believe you (and many others) move about Ballard completely oblivious to the hideous 60's 70's 80's structures with parking at grade and stucco siding (with water damage) which make up majority of Ballards dense sites.

Durr Durr, New project. Must insult. Density Good. Urban Sprawl Bad. Not in Ballard though.

Chip

You are wrong. I am not oblivious to those structures. I am constantly on the look-out to buy those hideous 60's 70's 80's structures for my investors down in LA. The land is more valuable than the buildings and are so ugly I am happy to do my job. Don't worry, those hideous 60's 70's 80's structures will come down...it's nice to know you support my efforts!