Equinox – Seattle

Equinox condominiums are located in of one of Seattle’s most eclectic boroughs. Eastlake is a perfect transition between often rowdy U-District and bustling South Lake Union. The neighborhood offers its residents the chance to travel downtown in 5 minutes, but has enough amenities to provide for a fun night all its own. Bars, restaurants and boutiques line Eastlake Ave, the main thoroughfare for the east side of Lake Union. Legendary haunts, like The Zoo Tavern, meld seamlessly with contemporary hotspots like Sitka & Spruce.  Many homes and condos in the area have views that take advantage of the neighborhood’s natural slope toward Lake Union. The layout of the units at the Equinox do their best to maximize a peek at the lake.

Construction at Equinox is currently underway. The 204-unit, steel-framed building should be ready for its new residents in early 2009. Units in the complex range from studios (smallest: under 500 sq ft, priced in the mid-$200’s) to 2-bedroom lofts (over 1300 sq ft, approx. $1M).

Equinox is bringing Belltown-quality amenities (concierge, fitness center, communal great room with kitchen made for entertaining) to Eastlake. A monstrous 8600 sq ft courtyard lets residents commune around a centralized fire pit. The rooftop deck affords a fabulous view not only of the lake, but of the rapidly ascending Seattle skyline and on across to Queen Anne as well. Finish packages continue the high-end, urban flair. The design team of Weber + Thompson have selected Fischer & Paykel and Bosch stainless appliances, not to mention custom cabinetry, to adorn the interiors.

There are myriad floorplans to choose from, most focusing on maximizing space with very open layouts. Expect modern, European-feeling units. Some kitchen islands are even mobile, allowing the owner to create a kitchen that functions most efficiently for him/her. Many units are naturally south- or southwest-facing with huge windows to capture sunlight. The units facing east are the most affordable, and many have large decks or patios. Homeowners dues will be between 50 and 60 cents per square foot.

The Sales Center is located at 1500 Eastlake Ave E (Eastlake & Galer). Open 11-6 daily, the Sales Center has a scale model of the finished product, a full-size sample kitchen and the opportunity to view floorplans. Nearly 60 units were under contract by mid-July.

Quick Facts:

1. Location: 1530 Eastlake Ave E
2. # of Units: 204
3. Website: www.equinoxcondos.com
4. Est. Completion Date:  Early 2009
5. Flooring:
   1. Kitchens:  Hardwood
   2. Living Room/Bedrooms:  Carpet
   3. Bathrooms:  Ceramic Tile
6. Sales Center:  1500 Eastlake Ave E, 2nd Floor
7. Pricing:  $200,000-<$1,000,000
8. Floorplans/Finishes:  Available Online
9. Ceiling Height:  8’8″ – 9’8″
10. Options:  A/C, Eurosliders, Media Systems, Elec. Shades.
11. Structure: Steel & Concrete
12. Insulation/Sound Transmission Prevention
    1. Common Wall-to-Common Wall:
       1. 4 ^{3/4″ _{Acoustical Insulation}}
       2. _{^{2 Layers 5/8″ Drywall, Each Wall}}
       3. _{^{1″ Acoustic Gap}}
    2. Floor-to-Floor:
       1. 1 ^1/2” Gypsum
       2. 10″ Metal Joists
       3. Acoustic Insulation
       4. 1/2″ Resilient Channel (Sound Gap)
       5. 2 Layers 5/8″ Drywall