December 4, 2020

Create World now plans 23-story tower on Hardwick's Hardware site

Rendering by Studio19 Architects [enlarge]

The first design review for the tower will be held next month.

EB-5 developer Create World paid about $17.2 million in May of last year for the Hardwick's Hardware corner at 4212 Roosevelt Way N.E. Studio19 Architects then described an 18-story apartment tower. Zoning allows building up to 240 feet, and the early design now matches that with a 23-story, 220-unit tower.

The proposal will have its first design review on Jan. 25, in what will likely be a virtual meeting. The project owner is now listed as Washington Opportunity Fund LLC, which shares a Bellevue address and executives with Create World. The latter company has been busy completing the Emerald condominium downtown, and selling its remaining units.

Studio19's preferred design for the corner, at Northeast 42nd Street (one of the city's designated Green Streets), is dubbed “The Intersect.” It would have a public plaza to the south, on the corner, with about 4,405 square feet. One retail bay, presumably a cafe, with 1,279 square feet would face the plaza. A second bay on Roosevelt would have 2,156 square feet.

Two levels of underground parking, with 64 stalls, would be accessed from the alley to the east. There would also be four bike rooms in the garage. The site will be under 10 minutes by foot to U District Station, where light rail service will begin in less than a year.

Project size above grade is estimated at 159,561 square feet, including a roof deck with 2,164 square feet. Market-rate apartments are specified, meaning the developer will later pay a Mandatory Housing Affordability fee.

Units are still described as rentals; to date, Create World and its local partners have only built condominiums. The company is still planning a 17-story condominium on a corner it owns in Bellevue, now dubbed Altaire. (It previously went by Mira and, before that, Mira Phase II.)

Meanwhile, the rechristened Hardwick & Sons has relocated to Post Falls, near Coeur d'Alene in the Idaho Panhandle. The company's new website says its new brick-and-mortar store will open next year.

Related Stories:

• Create World buys Hardwick's site for $17M; 18-story tower planned  05-02-2019