You may have noticed all the scaffolding around the The Starlight Hotel at 5300 Ballard Ave NW. Workers are refurbishing the building.
The owners of Olympic Athletic Club have purchased the old Bank Building, and they plan to improve the interior and exterior. “Currently, we are restoring the exterior of the building, which should be completed in a few weeks. In the meantime, we are continuing to work with consultants to determine the best way to improve the interior,” Mark Durall, the general manager of Olympic Athletic Club tells us, “However, we still plan to operate the building as a hotel. We just want to restore and improve it.” (Thanks Carol for the tip!)
Starlight Hotel being refurbished
![](https://www.myballard.com/wp-content/uploads/My-Ballard-ad-1.png")
been dying to know what this was, thanks!
So hurry it up and stop blocking the sidewalk. Why is construction on a super creepy “hotel” more important than pedestrian safety?
Is it really a hotel or short term rental for transients? I’ve often thought it would make a great boutique hotel given the great location.
That’s my impression of it as well. I wish it could become a decent hotel for visiting friends/family to stay in, but my understanding is that you have to share bathroom facilities on each floor, so it’s not likely to be upscaled anytime soon as it would cost prohibitive.
Here come the whiners!
Boutique hotel, yeah!
Yah, like those people in wheelchairs who like to use the sidewalk. Let’s take this as an example and cover all the other ramps and sidewalks in construction–right Snoopy?
Ballard could use a Hostel.
So it is still going to be Starlight Hotel? Will Jim still be around these parts of Ballard? Jim’s the best!
I’m pretty sure there is a hostel on Shilshole Ave right by Ray’s Boathouse.
I spoke with Mark at Olympic, and he told me that the plan is to refurbish it as a boutique hotel with adjacent spa. From what I understand, it will be available to everyone, but at discounted rates for Olympic members. I agree that Ballard really needs a hotel, so hopefully this will fill that need!
Yeah, I’ve been thinking the same thing. Finding a nice place for out of town guests to stay at isn’t easy in Ballard. There really are no nice hotels though we have been lucky to find some great VRBO places. A nice, modest sized hotel is one of those things Ballard seems to be sorely missing.
SWEET
Wheelchairs? You couldn’t use one down that side street if you tried (look at the photo moron, between the trees and the 3 ft sidewalk there, no one in wheel chair could make it). As for the Ballard Ave side construction companies are regularly allowed to block side walks for safety. Or maybe you think all construction that ever requires temporarily inconveniencing people for a few weeks should be stopped?
Seriously, Snoopy’s right, you’re the classic Seattle Whiner. I believe there’s a Pemco ad coming your way soon.
NW profile #66, The Whiner.
Weeks? This has been there since the farmer’s market had summer vegetables.
Also yes, normally a wheelchair can fit through here–I know from personal experience.
There used to be one there – but it closed. All the poor travelers were able to bus from the airport/bus station to the Locks, then they were stranded by Metro and had to schlep their bags the last mile.
NW Profile #66
There always is, there always must be bad news online whiner
An online forum wouldn’t be the same without you. Whether it is complaining about the sidewalks, or how people don’t support the homeless, you are there. And the forum wouldn’t be the same without you. Because without you, readers would never be able to see the negative experiences in everyday occurrences.
Online whiner you are one of us.
I got an idea, why not cross the street and go around the obstacle? Someone is renovating a historic building and they felt the need to block the sidewalk to create a safe area to work. I applaud OAC for investing money in a cool looking building that has been neglected in the past. It is pretty lame to whine about such a minor inconvenience when there are clear benefits for the neighborhood.
I get it, your needs or more important the the needs of others. What a self-entitled jacka**. Cross the street, go around, figure it out somehow. I’m grateful with what they are doing, the building is worth it.
Looks like they’re working on the building facade. Funny that you mention “pedestrian safety” as it is probably safer for pedestrians not to be on the sidewalk while construction is occurring.
I’m not so sure about that, I looked up the assessed value and its $594,000. I’m sure that the green tortoise downtown isn’t cheap land being right next to the market.
Seems like the Swedes kind of dropped the ball on this one, huh?
And now that building is the world headquarters of Spacecraft.
“we are continuing to work with consultants to determine the best way to improve the interior”
In other words, “We are trying to figure out how to evict the Old Ballard curmudgeons and then grind off six decades of chain smoking residue.”
Yes, nothing increases pedestrian safety more than letting them walk past a place where they’re likely to get hit on the head by a dropped hammer or hunk of old plumbing being removed.
The safest place for a pedestrian, or a wheelchair, on a construction site is SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I think this would be a great spot for: Ace Hotel – Ballard.
You know what would be an awesome location for a hotel? The trapezoidal lot behind Bergen Place where Blackbird and its neighbors are! Man, I sure wish there were an attractive, historic brick hotel right there!
[Sorry, that was an I’m-a-recent-arrival-and-I-know-it joke.]
Cripes. I lived in the top corner room of that hotel from 1973 to June ’74 when I was 20. Glad I got out of THAT place.
That “super creepy ‘hotel'” is an SRO serving the almost-homeless. I’m surprised to read here that you complain that people in Ballard don’t help the homeless, then whine that your convenience in not crossing the street is more important! I guess some people wouldn’t cross the street to help a homeless person.
Don’t we already have a Silver Cloud hotel going in where the Yankee Diner is? Yes, it is an SRO for transients right now. Who are part of our community too.
You’re right I am a whiner. I’m sorry for asking that those in wheelchairs have the same opportunity to move up and down Ballard Ave as those without wheelchairs.
Here’s a profile for you: The Unwelcome Transplant
An online forum wouldn’t be the same without you. You spend your time complaining about the behavior of the natives, or how the city handles the snow, but your favorite complaint is the weather.
Unwelcome Transplant, you are certainly a fixture in the Northwest.
That plan was scuttled due to shoreline/enviromental issues
By definition transients are temporary, so not sure if that really makes them a part of our community that much more than the passengers on the plane that flies over the neighborhood.
How come?? I would love to hear more!
A nice boutique hotel will be great there! And isn’t there a hostel going in over in Fremont too? I think I remember reading something about that.
Maybe the owners of the Olympic Athletic Club should spend a little money fixing that eyesore of a parking garage with the broken sign about to fall off. Way to make historical Ballard ave look crappy!
Dude, pull the wheel chair out of your ass and join the real world.
Well at least you can admit that you’re I whiner. Personally I can’t stand and choose not to hang around with disabled folks who have the whole whiner poor me attitude. It’s annoying that people just can’t accept situations that they are in and move on.
I would be upset if an area was once accessible and then changed but this is temporary. There is a good chance that they wouldn’t be able to work on it in a sage manner otherwise.
I think they will find it hard to improve upon perfection…
“Who are part of our community too.”
So take them in…..
Dude, i think you created another profile for yourself.
i realllly want that starlight hotel sign…