January 14, 2026

Betting on Sonics return, Augustine plans 119 Uptown units on Selig lot

Rendering via Johnson Oaklief Architecture & Planning [enlarge]

Looking north, Third is at left, with Western in the foreground.

As the many parking lots and Class B office buildings are gradually sold from the dwindling Martin Selig Real Estate empire, an apartment plan emerged last month for an Uptown triangle at 220 Elliott Ave. W.

On the south slope of Lower Queen Anne, that misleading address doesn't really map. That parking lot is west of the Homewood Suites, and doesn't even touch Elliott. (Does it look south to Elliott? Sure.) The sloping and nearly half-acre site is bounded by West Thomas Street, Western Avenue West and Third Avenue West.

Cushman & Wakefield is offering the lot, with the seller to be the receiver for past Selig lender Goldman Sachs. December's apartment plan was swiftly supplemented by an interim improvement scheme for the parking. Enhancements are to include better lighting and a new curb cut. That's intended as a short-term use during the entitlement process. For both that and the future apartments, Johnson Oaklief Architects is working with intended buyer Augustine Capital Partners.

Augustine's website prominently features an eight-story, 119-unit apartment building dubbed the Elliott. The relatively new firm is led by Brad Augustine, a veteran industry figure also associated with Madrona Real Estate Services. Madrona and Augustine's last project was the 25-unit Fidalgo Flats in Anacortes. That was also designed by Johnson Oaklief. Madrona will manage the Elliott apartments.

Augustine says it hopes to close on the land next month, with its broker being Tim Foster at Kidder Mathews. The goal is to break ground next year, with completion in 2029. The project will likely employ the city's multifamily property tax exemption program to include affordable units. (That's on top of Mandatory Housing Affordability provisions.)

Brad Augustine told the DJC this week, “We're buying a parking lot with a great location next to the busy Queen Anne Beerhall and walking distance to Climate Pledge Arena. We are convinced that the Sonics are coming back in 2029, so we want cashflow for our investors with a well-located parking lot in case the economy turns.” The CPA and Seattle Center are but a short walk uphill — and indeed there's beer next door!

No contractor has been selected yet, says Augustine. The Elliott team also includes Urban Environmental Partners, soils contamination remediation; Quantum Consulting Engineers, structural; PanGEO, geotechnical; CT Engineering, shoring; Allana Buick and Bers, envelope; A3 Acoustical Engineers; and Washington Trust Bank, the future construction lender.

Design review isn't required in that part of town. Some amount retail/commercial space is possible. The proposal also includes 90 underground parking stalls and 38 structured stalls.

Cushman & Wakefield hasn't set an asking price for the 17,716-square-foot expanse. Other Selig lots have traded in recent months from downtown to Uptown — where Intracorp and Stream Real Estate have expressed interest in developing yet another nearby lot.

If the Elliott apartment plan proceeds, one amenity will certainly be the nearby Thomas Street bike/ped overpass, which leads to the waterfront, Olympic Sculpture Park and ongoing Elliott Bay Connections project. That should wrap by this summer.

Brad Augustine also lauds the “great views of Elliott Bay, big sunsets and the fact that we are exactly 100 steps from the pedestrian bridge for access to Myrtle Edwards Park.”