December 4, 2020

Final design review coming for 212 Ballard units in 2 buildings

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Renderings by Bumgardner Architects [enlarge]

The two buildings, north (top) and south (bottom), include office space — unlike most mixed-use plans in Ballard.

The two-building, 212-unit Ballard Hub proposal, designed by Bumgardner Architects, had its first design review in the summer of last year. The third and likely final review will be in a virtual meeting on Dec. 14.

The south building, at 1740 N.W. Market St., will replace an old retail/commercial complex, now home to FedEx Office. North across the alley, a parking lot will give way to the second building, at 1741 N.W. 56th St.

The unit count has increased a little, but the numbers are otherwise about the same. Both structures will have eight stories.

The south building will have 4,101 square feet of retail/commercial space and an outdoor seating area set within the building's footprint. On the second floor, 6,213 square feet of offices are planned. A roof deck will overlook Market Street — as will a terrace on the third floor. There will be no parking.

The north building will have 27 stacked and structured parking stalls, to be accessed from the alley. Also planned are 2,210 square feet of retail/commercial space and 5,606 square feet of offices (again on the second floor). A third-floor terrace and roof deck are also included.

Owner Wang Brothers Investments LLC paid $8.3 million in 2018 for the property. The team includes GeoEngineers; Green Lake Engineering, civil; Bush, Roed & Hitchings, surveyor; Karen Kiest Landscape Architects; Emerald City Engineers, MEP; Building Envelope Engineering; and Brienen Structural Engineers.

No general contractor is listed, and the project may be sold after obtaining a master use permit. A related Wang entity owns a 59-unit project at 1601 Dexter Ave. N., now with a master use permit, which is being offered by Ross Klinger at Kidder Mathews.

Ballard Hub's total project size is listed at 108,421 square feet. The proposal began before Ballard's Mandatory Housing Affordability upzone, so no affordable units are required. Since the zoning limit was subsequently raised from 85 to 95 feet, a future buyer could potentially add a level to each building, then pay a fee or include affordable units.

Also in Ballard, Wang owns the former Kress grocery store, at 2220 N.W. Market St., which continues to operate as a retail/commercial complex. The family's investment activity stems from Pottery Land USA, a Bay Area manufacturer and wholesaler. Wang has no apparent record as a builder.