June 27, 2024

Simon to start Northgate Station apartments next month

Renderings by GGLO [enlarge]

The buildings will be east of the Kraken Community Iceplex.

Simon Property Group and architect GGLO secured their master use permits two years ago for the initial pair of apartment buildings on the east side of Northgate Station. (The old mall has assumed the new station's name.)

Simon said this week that the ceremonial groundbreaking will be held on Thurs., July 11 at 10523 Fifth Ave. N.E.

The builder will be Compass Construction, as the DJC first reported in 2022.

[enlarge]

Looking east, the skybridge spans the hill climb.

The midrise project will rise east of the Kraken Community Iceplex and Central Park. The larger north M2 building is to have 234 units, and will wrap around structured parking with about 569 stalls. That building now has busy city permit activity.

Lagging behind slightly, the smaller south M3 building will have 186 units, and will share the M2 garage. Simon appears to be phasing the two, and more details should come in July. A prior construction schedule estimated 38 months to completion for both.

Total project size is around 807,000 square feet. Construction is to be Type III-A wood over Type I-A concrete. There's no sign yet of a construction loan.

On a sloping site, the duo will present five to seven stories to residents and shoppers within Northgate Station. On Fifth, the complex will rise up to nine stories, with some townhouse-style units facing that street.

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Looking southwest, the M2 and M3 buildings will have 420 apartments. Simon’s master development plan allows up to 1,200 units.

The two buildings will be separated by a zig-zagging hill climb, with a three-level skybridge above to connect the structures. Units look to run from studios to three-bedrooms, in a range from about 480 to 1,300 square feet.

Simon's team also includes KPFF, civil engineer; Coughlin Porter Lundeen, structural engineer; Ecotope, mechanical and plumbing; OZ, interiors; Maximilist, branding; Terracon and GeoTest Services, geotechnical engineers; EA Engineering, environmental consultant; Bush, Roed & Hitchings, surveyor; Allana Buick & Bers, envelope; Reyes Engineering, lighting; Travis-Fitzmaurice & Assoc., electrical; Fire Protection Systems; and Elk Heights Excavation.

The two buildings will have about 29,000 square feet of retail, which Simon will presumably market on its own.

Meanwhile, on the west side of Northgate Station, near the freeway, Graham Construction has topped out on the 167-room Residence Inn by Marriott. There's also a crane up, to the south at Thornton Place, for the separate 235-unit affordable housing project being built by Walsh Construction.

Simon hasn't announced any schedule beyond the apartments for future components of the 55-acre mall makeover. (GGLO created the master plan.) That's also to include two more apartment buildings, retail, offices and a second hotel. The plan — which originated long before the station opened in October 2021 — covers about two-thirds of the property. The apartments are expected to total some 1,200 units.

The north third's fate is still uncertain; a new permit process would be required there, and there are no declared plans. Some of the old retail, including Barnes & Noble, still survives there. The Azteca closed in recent months.