ok i have a question. the cbd use to have a heightlimit of 450' but idx is 512' tall and new wamu is 598' tall. is it possible to build over the height limit in these areas?
There are a number of reasons buildings can go over the height limit - some allowed outright (like mechanical/elevator equipment) and some that require approval (roof features).
WaMu worked out a special deal. They we a major company wanting to stay Downtown, and special deals are popular in those cases for good reason.
IDX stairsteps up the hill. Each half is at or close to the 450' limit measured from its nearest avenue. They might have gotten a little extra for mechanical. I'm just guessing.
Heron is in a 500' zone but the two towers are around 550'. These appear to be mechanical/aesthetic design features on top. The main rooflines appear to be 500'. I don't know how the new height rules treat architectural features, but I suspect (and hope!) that they're much more liberal, and let us have our spires and a little added height for looks. It used to be that an rooftop architectural feature was pretty much not allowed unless it was within the zoned height, meaning you could do it only by shortening the revenue-generating part of the building.
I updated the front page. Let me know if anything needs to be changed.
__________________ "There's two kinds of men in the world. Those who have a crush on Linda Ronstadt, and those who never heard of her." - Willie Nelson
Thanks to blackc5 in SSC, 5th and Columbia superimposed on the skyline.
__________________ "There's two kinds of men in the world. Those who have a crush on Linda Ronstadt, and those who never heard of her." - Willie Nelson
Last edited by James Bond Agent 007; Feb 9, 2008 at 1:56 AM.
No, that's 5th & Columbia by Nitze-Stagen. 5th & Madison is a Schnitzer West project just to the left behind Bank of Cal, of similar height to this one. (You can also imagine the Triad project just right of the Columbia Center...the Financial and Government Districts could be pretty dense in 2011!
__________________ "There's two kinds of men in the world. Those who have a crush on Linda Ronstadt, and those who never heard of her." - Willie Nelson
You know, from that angle, the two hospital projects and the retirement home on First Hill will show up pretty well. So will Fifth & Yesler in front of the right side of Harborview. If the apartment tower gets built at Terry & James, that'll stick up even more. Along with the projects I mentioned before, that's quite a change for the south end of Downtown visually.
No, that's 5th & Columbia by Nitze-Stagen. 5th & Madison is a Schnitzer West project just to the left behind Bank of Cal, of similar height to this one. (You can also imagine the Triad project just right of the Columbia Center...the Financial and Government Districts could be pretty dense in 2011!
Are there any renderings of this project? I always thought it looked unnatural how most of the taller buildings in downtown Seattle suddenly stopped south of Columbia Centre. It would be so nice to see more in the Government District and northern Pioneer Square to create a more visually balanced effect.
I think they could go higher closer to Pioneer Square - particularly due to the fact that the newer towers would be north of the historic area and not cast shadows on it.
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