January 13, 2026

Apartment plan fermenting for Original Rainier Brewery

Photo via Lee & Associates [enlarge]

The red-brick Malt House ranges from three to four stories.

In Georgetown, almost exactly seven years ago, the landmarked Original Rainier Brewery complex sold to Portland-based ScanlanKemperBard and a partner. That complex of century-old buildings, with multiple addresses, isn't to be confused with the newer north Rainier plant — with its red neon R sign, next to the Interstate 5 ramps to West Seattle.

The older south Georgetown complex, at and around 5900 Airport Way S., has several small tenants including Fran's Chocolates. Lee & Associates is the broker for SKB.

Now there's a new apartment plan for the middle of the complex, dubbed the Malt House, which runs between South Doris and Homer streets. Architect GGLO will present the proposal on Friday to the city's Landmarks Preservation Board. Story Box Architecture is also consulting on the plan.

The number of units isn't yet enumerated. The existing red-brick Malt House ranges from three to four stories. Such creaky old industrial structures are notoriously hard to measure or repurpose. GGLO rates the current structure at 72,466 square feet, and proposes demolishing about 52,209 square feet of that — all to the east, facing the freeway, not Airport Way.

Renderings via GGLO [enlarge]

The new structure would rise five levels above grade, and be slightly inset from the west facade.

[enlarge]

[enlarge]

The latter west facade would be preserved, of course. GGLO says its condition is poor, so there'd be much restoration and subsequent seismic work to allow future residential use. Current ceiling heights are wildly irregular, and there have been many structural additions and subtractions over the past decades.

The new structure would rise five levels above grade, with its C-shaped footprint creating an east courtyard (or parking area) next to the railroad tracks and freeway. It would also be slightly inset from the west facade, to create a new retail/commercial arcade facing Airport Way.

Some selective demolition is proposed to the Airport Way facade; that would create more windows and light for the inner retail arcade. How many bays and shops might that have? A future presentation should clarify matters.

Including zoning incentives for historic preservation, new construction could rise to about 65 feet. Apartments are currently indicated at studios and one-beds. Those could possibly total 100 units or so. Parking isn't specified, for a project that might encompass some 200,000 square feet.

GGLO's landmarks board packet includes some alarming photos of the deteriorating brick and sandstone. It further notes the “unsafe pedestrian sidewalk” and deems the building layout and design to be “unsuitable for most uses.”