Chainqui Development of Taiwan will have its first design review next week for a 44-story mixed-use tower at 2005 5th Avenue in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. Plans call for the tower to feature 440 apartment units above street-level retail on the corner of 5th and Virginia. The retail space will be organized along Virginia Street while the residential entrance will be on 5th Avenue. The tower also includes six-levels of below grade parking for 292-vehicles that will be accessible via the alley.
Earlier this year Chainqui asked the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board to determine whether the two existing buildings on the site may be city landmarks: the Sheridan Apartments at 2011 5th Avenue and the Griffin Building at 2005 5th Avenue. In July, the LPB voted to approve the designation of the Sheridan Apartments and the Griffin Building.
As a result, Chanqui will preserve the facade of the landmarked buildings, creating a podium for the new tower. The tower’s podium level will feature green terraces and amenity deck. Residential floor plans and sizes are unknown, but views include downtown and Mount Rainier; Elliott Bay and Puget Sound; Seattle Center and Queen Anne; and Lake Union.
According to the landmark application the four-story Griffin Building was designed by Frank Fowler and built by Peter P. Gjarde in 1927. It is made of reinforced concrete with brick masonry infill and terracotta cladding. In 1920, David Dow designed and constructed the six-story terra cotta-clad Sheridan Apartments for investment banker W.D. Perkins.
To the project’s immediate north is Vulcan’s proposed 44-story residential tower on the corner of 5th Avenue and Lenora Street. Due to the fact that Vulcan’s tower is located on the extreme south of their property, Chainqui is seeking a departure to minimize the distance between their project and Vulcan’s from 80 feet to 60 feet.
Back in 2015, a Chainqui Development entity paid $20.7 million for the Sheridan building and parking lot, and $12.99 million for the Griffin. Chainqui is also currently under construction on Urban Green Villa, a 12-story 132-unit apartment tower at 2401 3rd Avenue.
The 2005 5th Avenue team includes DSA Development Services, overseeing the project; GWest Architecture, architect; and MIG|SvR, landscape architect.
The next Design Review Meeting for 2005 5th Avenue will be at 7:00pm on Tuesday, December 5 at City Hall, 600 5th Ave., Room L280.