1521 - Seattle

1521 Second is proud to have staked a claim in one of the nation’s top 10 neighborhoods. Pike Place Market, not even necessarily considered a “neighborhood” by most Seattleites, was recently awarded that distinction. Citing diverse occupants (high-priced condos and low-income housing), the plethora of things to do within walking distance, history and functionality, the American Planning Association was sufficiently charmed to bestow the honor. No doubt developers working with 1521 Second welcome the recognition.

Slated for completion in late 2008, 1521 Second will be one of Seattle’s premier luxury buildings. Amenities include lounge rooms, a yoga/pilates center, high-speed elevator, business center, concierge, children’s playroom and a rooftop deck that, at 400 feet in the Seattle sky, should be captivating. In residences, finishes feature 8′ solid interior doors, motorized bedroom blinds, custom cabinetry, slab granite counters and self-closing drawers. Appliances include Bosch washer/dryers, Wolf ranges and microwaves, Sub-Zero refrigerators and Miele dishwashers. There will be residential homes on floors 7-38. Each floor will have only 3-5 units - five toward the base, four in the middle and three at the top. Prices at 1521 Second start at $1 million.

Escala - Seattle

Scheduled for completion in early 2009, the Escala aims to please the buyer interested in living downtown within a building designed to pamper with amenities. Presales at the LEXAS development had exceeded $60 million as of late July. Or, in reference to their official opening, $1,000,000/day for 60 days.

The Escala (or Escala I, as it will end up being known) occupies a huge divot in the ground at 4th & Virginia. The builder, JE Dunn, has excavated the second deepest hole in downtown’s history. The reason? Parking. Escala boasts of providing its residents with the most downtown underground parking (per owner) of any complex currently on the market.

Another distinctive feature of Escala is its four elevators, one per building corner. For the most part, a unit on a given floor will be able to access their residence with what amounts to their own private elevator.