November 3, 2011

Creative new tenants for Pike-Pine building

Photo by Katie Zemtseff [enlarge]

Hunters Capital said its Ballou Wright building has four new tenants. The structure at 1517 12th Ave. is now 93 percent occupied.

Tenants are Creature (whose office space is shown here), Goose Networks, Johan Liedgren and Branson Veal's Uncle Bob, a company whose Facebook page says it collaborates on television, film and video projects.

They occupy 18,500 square feet of the 28,000-square-foot building. One vacant space is left.

A press release for Hunters Capital says this is the neighborhood's first “all media-exclusive office building.”

Michael Malone, founder and principal of the Seattle-based development firm, said the “romance” of old buildings is especially attractive to people in their 30s and 40s.

“We are pleased to provide cost-effective office solutions for the community's creative agencies and tech start-ups, while preserving the character of Seattle's historic commercial and residential neighborhoods,” Malone said in a press release.

Hunters Capital said it has been successful despite the tough market by focusing on the Pike-Pine neighborhood. Most of its tenants and their employees live, work and socialize in the neighborhood.

Creature is a small advertising firm founded by former Wieden + Kennedy employees, with clients that include HBO, Jansport, Kraft and Sierra Mist. Matt Peterson, Creature founder and principal, said he likes the mix of old and new in the space.

“We modernized it with light, color and palette,” he said. “Since these spaces are so raw, we can put our own touch to it and get a richer feel from the environment.”

Hunters Capital has restored four buildings in the Pike-Pine area to house tech-driven startups and creative companies.

The Ballou Wright Auto Parts Distribution Co. building was built in 1917 and was once part of Seattle's “auto row.”

One of Hunters Capital's goals is to bring more businesses into the neighborhood, which is known more for its nightlife.