March 4, 2014

Holland teeing up 325 units in SLU

Image courtesy Weber Thompson [enlarge]

Holland Partner Group is moving ahead with the first two buildings of a four-block development project called Westlake Steps along Westlake Avenue North in South Lake Union.

Holland wants to build 325 apartments in two buildings at 1414 Dexter Ave. N. and 1287 Westlake Ave. N. with 292 underground parking spaces.

A design review early design guidance meeting is scheduled at 8 p.m. March 12 at Queen Anne Community Center, 1901 First Ave. W.

Holland's residential buildings could be as tall as 125 feet, but the first two buildings are only six stories, according to project documents.

Weber Thompson is the architect for the two apartment buildings.

The buildings are next to each other just south of Galer Street, with one facing Dexter and the other facing Westlake. The preferred design shows each building with a landscaped courtyard set back from the street at the ground floor and a rooftop deck.

Holland is still working with the city on permits, but the plan for Westlake Steps is for five or six new buildings with about 600 apartments, 150 hotel rooms and 150,000 square feet of office space, Tom Parsons, partner in charge of Holland's Pacific Northwest region, told the DJC in January.

The office building, which will be on a vacant site south of Highland Drive on Westlake, already has a master use permit. Parsons previously said construction could begin on the office building this summer. The apartments will be built in phases, and construction could start on the first buildings late this year or early next year.

Holland also plans to renovate an 80,000-square-foot existing office building at Dexter and Lee Street.

In December Holland paid $79.5 million for the four blocks between Westlake and Dexter avenues north, and Galer and Aloha streets. The property is 14 parcels on 5.5 acres.

The seller was an entity related to Blackstone Group.

Equity Office Properties Trust, an affiliate of Blackstone, had planned in 2007 to build a 825,000-square-foot complex there, with office, retail and housing, but the project never came to fruition.

Holland has been one of the biggest players in South Lake Union in recent years. Including Westlake Steps, the Vancouver-based company has planned, started construction or opened more than 1,600 apartments between Dexter, Westlake, Mercer and Highland.