SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - Aug 23, 2012) - Wood Partners, the most active multifamily developer in the nation, is set to begin construction on a 27-story, 298-unit high-rise apartment complex at 225 Cedar Street, located on the southwest corner of Cedar and Third Avenue in Seattle's Belltown.
"The Third and Cedar project is strategically positioned in the north end of the Belltown restaurant and nightlife district close to Seattle Center and South Lake Union, one of the most vibrant urban areas not just in Seattle but in the nation," said Steve Orser, Wood Partners' vice president of development for the Pacific Northwest. "It has a palpable vibe to it that should attract young, technologically oriented professionals to the many outstanding employers in the area."
The site is located in the shadow of the iconic Space Needle, just a short walk from the South Lake Union and Queen Anne neighborhoods, and sits just a block from Seattle Center, home to a variety of cultural and educational organizations and facilities, festivals, entertainment venues and community programs.
South Lake Union is an extension of the downtown/Belltown employment axis and is quickly becoming Seattle's main medical/biotech hub including employers such as the Gates Foundation, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research, the University of Washington and Path. In less than a decade, 2.5 million square-feet of new commercial space have been added, bringing nearly 7,000 new jobs to the area since 2000. Amazon recently relocated its headquarters -- and more than 4,000 jobs -- to South Lake Union just a quarter mile to the northeast. In fact, Third & Cedar is only blocks away from Amazon's recently announced three-tower, three million square feet of additional office development which will begin in 2013.
While the apartment building itself will rise 27 stories, an additional six levels of subterranean parking will accommodate nearly 200 cars. Approximately 3,800 square feet will be reserved for commercial/retail use on the ground floor.
According to National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the economic impact of new home construction is substantial. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, NAHB estimates that new multifamily construction projects generate more than $86,000 in income and more than $33,000 in federal, state and local taxes per unit.
"Despite the fact that some new residential units have been added to the neighborhood, there is still not enough housing to meet the demand created by the employment growth," said Orser. "The Third & Cedar project is an ideal location to capitalize on this imbalance. Its location at the very center of Seattle's urban core neighborhoods, in close proximity to numerous amenities and employment centers, make it an extremely desirable location."
The average apartment size at this new community will be 660 square feet and the unit mix will feature a variety of floor plans and configurations including studios, urban and traditional one- and two-bedroom units. Space-efficient designs with flexible layouts and built-in storage will make compact units feel more spacious while keeping overall unit rents at an attractive level.
Among the communal amenities the development will include are an expansive roof deck with a fire pit and gas barbecue grills, a rooftop residents' lounge and spectacular 360 degree views of the Seattle skyline to the north, east and south with Puget Sound and Bainbridge Island to the west. The complex also will include an exercise facility with a bicycle workshop.
Project partners include Prudential, the equity partner; JPM Chase, the lender; Hewitt, the architect and landscape architect; DCI Engineers, the structural engineer; and KPFF, the civil engineer. The general contractor is Andersen Construction.
About Wood Partners
Wood Partners is a national real estate company that acquires, develops, constructs and property manages high density and mixed-use communities. In 2011, it was ranked the nation's No. 1 multifamily developer with 3,750 unit starts. Through quality construction, responsible land development and intelligent design, our communities reflect the aesthetic and social fabric of the community and provide a luxurious living experience at a fair price. The company has been involved in the development of more than 40,000 homes with a combined value of more than $5.5 billion nationwide. Wood Partners has offices in 15 major markets nationwide including Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Delray Beach, Denver, Houston, Newport Beach, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh-Durham, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C. To learn more about Wood Partners, please visit our Web site at www.woodpartners.com.
Contact Information:
Media Contacts:
Anton Communications
Vanessa Showalter
Genevieve Anton