Rendering via Bumgardner
An Early Design Guidance Meeting was held earlier this month for Security Properties’ Belltown 36, a 30-story residential tower in Belltown. After questions and concerns by the board and community, the project was denied approval to proceed with the design review process.
Located at 314 Bell Street, the Bumgardner-designed tower plans show 352 apartment units above street level retail and parking. Its retail space is primarily located along Bell Street with a cafe and secret garden located off Fourth Avenue. The residential entry is also located off Fourth.
Despite its location above the new Highway 99 tunnel, below grade parking would not be out of the question. One option shows four levels of below grade parking for 252 vehicles with the “foundation stay[ing] well above the new Highway 99 tunnel below.” An alternative option shows structure parking for 239 located above retail with “the potential to eventually convert unneeded parking to other uses if parking demand lessons over time.”
Rendering via Bumgardner
Last year, the neighborhood was up-zoned to allow for residential towers up to 280-feet tall in exchange for affordable housing. An additional 10 feet could be allowed if “kid-friendly” units are located below 85-feet. Looking to take advantage of allowances, family friendly units are located on level two if there will be below grade parking, or level six if there’s structured parking.
The 19,440 square foot site is comprised of two parcels, one of which Security Properties purchased last fall from Columbia West Properties for $10.75 million. It is currently the site of a one-story warehouse recently used by the nonprofit, Mary’s Place. The second, smaller parcel is the Two Bells Tavern property (the tavern closed last year). The Two Bells owners have agreed to sell the property, but a deal hasn’t been closed yet.
The Belltown 36 team will now have to prepare and return a second Early Design Guidance meeting sometime over the next couple of months.