September 23, 2016

Crews repair two buildings on Second but one day they'll be razed for tower

Photo by Jon Silver [enlarge]

Urban Visions eventually wants to build a 60-story high rise on the whole block but two buildings there today need some maintenance.

Construction crews have been busy for the past month removing stonework from a pair of buildings on Second Avenue that are on the site where Urban Visions eventually wants to build a 60-story high rise called 888 Tower.

The high rise would occupy the full block between Second and Third avenues, and Columbia and Marion streets. It would house more than 1 million square feet of office space, 160 residential units and street-level retail.

But the work going on there now has less to do with preparing for the new tower than maintaining the existing buildings.

The two-story Seattle Trust & Savings Bank is at 804 Second Ave., and the five-story Melhorn Building is at 814 Second Ave. Both were built in first decade of the 20th century.

Tom Deering of Synthesis Architects said crews are replacing some of the decorative stone trim with metal. A site plan filed with the city also describes covering existing cast-iron panels with prefinished metal panels.

No interior work or seismic upgrades are planned.

Broderick Smith of Urban Visions said removing the unreinforced masonry features will be “good for public safety.”

Tenants include the Discovery Institute and Consolidated Restaurants. A former LA Fitness space on the corner of Second and Columbia has been vacant since 2014.

Work is slated to finish in mid-October. Pennon Construction is the general contractor.

The buildings are expected to be razed eventually to make way for the new tower.

Smith didn't offer a timetable for that development, and said Urban Visions won't break ground before lining up major tenants.

“Stay tuned,” Smith said.