January 31, 2020 – Blume Company Real Estate released early images of its proposed 33-story residential tower located at 4525 – 9th Avenue NE in the University District. The tower will have 330 apartment units with ground level amenities and 2-story townhomes that help to activate a generous public courtyard on the southside of the site. The site is a total of 21,600 sq. ft. and parking will be underground with approximately 205 stalls. The apartment units will be market rate with a mix of studio, one, and two-bedroom units.
The proposed design is the first residential tower proposed in the NW section of the University District since the MHA rezone and has been designed with an aesthetic that continues the residential and tree-lined blocks to the north. The building massing steps back from the property line creating areas for new trees, ornamental plants, and street furniture as part of the public realm.
A key design principal for the slender tower is a 7,830 sq. ft. pubic courtyard with lush vegetation and seating areas for residents, neighbors and visitors to enjoy. It is sited on the south side of the lot in order to maximize solar access and allow for a companion or network of open spaces if adjacent properties are redeveloped. As a long-term hold firm, it is important to the Blume Company that the University District grow with public amenities that create a human-scale and walkable neighborhood.
With that in mind, the preferred design also includes townhomes on the west edge of the public courtyard which echo the historic pattern found in the adjacent residential blocks. The townhomes bring a new diversity of housing to the University District and provide activation to the public courtyard and an alley along the westside of the tower. The townhomes will have landscaped, backyard decks along the alley adding vitality and stoops along the courtyard.
The tower has been positioned to provide light and air for the mid-rise buildings across the alley with alley entrances and residential balconies. It is also setback an average of 9-feet from the north property line providing approximately 102-feet between the tower and University Plaza Condominiums.
VIA Architecture is designing the tower and will be presenting the design massing options to the Northeast Design Review Board on February 10th. Communita Atelier is the landscape design firm, CKC Structural Engineers is providing structural engineer services, KPFF Consulting Engineers is the civil engineer, and Hart Crowser is serving as the geotechnical engineering firm. No estimated project costs are available.
