November 7, 2017

40-unit addition likely for site on Queen Anne

Photo by Brian Miller [enlarge]

The three-story building at 2120 First Ave. N. opened in 1923 as a nurses’ residence for Seattle Children’s Orthopedic Hospital.

Tucked between Queen Anne Manor and the Safeway on Upper Queen Anne is a charming little Georgian-style three-story building at 2120 First Ave. N.

It was developed in 1923 as a nurses' residence for Seattle Children's Orthopedic Hospital, which was located in what is now the Queen Anne Manor retirement community. The narrow property extends from North Boston to North Crockett streets, and shares the block with the former hospital, built in 1910.

Seattle Children's moved to Laurelhurst in 1953, and the nurses' residence was used for offices by King County.

In the late 1970s, the American Cancer Society bought the small building, also called the Frances Skinner Edris Nursing Home, for offices. Now ACS is selling the entire 16,005-square-foot property, which includes a parking lot to the south.

JLL's Jordan Louie and Doug Hanafin are the brokers, and their listing says that ACS intends to lease back the offices through the first quarter of 2019, allowing time for entitlements.

“I have it under contract,” confirms Brian Regan of Equinox Properties. “We hope to close in December.”

Regan hired Skidmore Janette as the architect, and filed an early plan for a project that he calls Arbor Space.

On the parking lot to the south, a new three-story building would have “potentially 40 units” with one level of underground parking.

The existing ACS building, with about 13,000 square feet, would remain as office space serving smaller tenants. “I'd probably landmark it,” says Regan, given the historic provenance, before making interior upgrades and other renovations.

The building was designed by A.H. Albertson (1872-1964). Alone or with partners, Albertson also designed Northern Life Tower (aka Seattle Tower), the Cobb Building, the downtown YMCA, Cornish College's Spanish-style Kerry Hall and the Women's University Club.

“It's a pretty amazing building,” says Regan. “It's in pretty good shape.”

Separately, Regan says he hopes to have permits in February or March for 9th Space, an office building he is planning at 308 Ninth Ave. N., in South Lake Union. Skidmore Janette is also the architect for that project.

Meanwhile, next door to the ACS building, Safeway intends to redevelop its property with a new store and 251 units above. Holland Partner Group is developing that project for Safeway.