Ankrom Moisan
Developer Marketview Place LLC (Stellar Holdings and Seattle Properties) and architect, Ankrom Moisan, are preparing for their next Early Guidance Design Meeting for a hotel, 103 Pike, after being denied at their previous two meetings. Plans call for the construction of a 14-story hotel with 121 rooms, 5 residential units, and commercial space on the first and second levels.
Located on the corner of First and Pike, this project has been met with strong opposition as the development doesn’t necessarily fit the historic context of the downtown area proximate to Pike Place Market. Community members at the meeting commented that the development would significantly detract from the rich historical context of Pike Place and the surrounding neighborhood.
Ankrom Moisan
Another aspect of the development sis that it will not have any parking, which has added more concern to the project, and Pike Place Market is already a busy area as it sees 10 million-plus visitors annually. No parking presents an opportunity for congestion due to hotel pick-ups and drop-offs. Pike Street is already down to one lane (as the other is now a protected bike lane) and First Avenue is getting ready for a shakeup of its own as work has begun on the new Center City Connector.
The construction of the hotel would mean the demolition of the more than 130-year-old Hahn Building. The 3-story building is currently home to the Green Tortoise Hostel and Seattle Coffee Works. It had previously been nominated for landmark status in 1999 and 2015, but did not pass the review.
Hahn Building via Save the Market Entrance Group
The Save the Market Entrance Group, an advocacy group of city residents and other supporters dedicated to preserving Pike Place Market, has circulated an online petition to the City of Seattle in opposition to the development which currently has over 11,000 signatures.
Should 103 Pike make it through the design review process it would become the tallest building at the four corners of the market entrance. Right now, the tallest building at the market entrance is only three stories.
The next Early Design Guidance Meeting will be at 7:00pm on Tuesday, April 3 at Seattle City Hall, 600 5th Ave Room L280.