About Seattle's Downtown

Following on the footsteps of the successful Belltown condo open house event a couple of weeks ago, a similar event is taking place on Sunday 2/14 in downtown from 1 – 4 pm.

The tour covers over 15 units in 10 buildings – Continental Place, Market Court, One Pacific Tower, Newmark Tower, 98 Union, Colonial Grand Pacific, Watermark Tower, Waterfront Place, Royal Crest and Olive 8.

Additionally, I’ll be hosting an open house at Cristalla (2nd & Lenora) from 1-4 pm as well.

Click on image to download the map (PDF):

CleanScapes Contest in Downtown Seattle $50,000:

Downtown Seattle is listed as one of the five Seattle neighborhoods being offered $50,000 by CleanScapes to reduce their overall garbage, recycling, and yard waste output. Queen Anne, Magnolia, Downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill and South Seattle were the five Seattle neighborhoods chosen for the contest because their output is higher than other neighborhoods in Seattle. The contest , though, really excludes quite a bit of Downtown Seattle, so make sure and check the map for details. It is divided by pick up days and you can find it here: http://www.cleanscapes.com/files/Seattle_NRR_Map.pdf

According to CleanScapes the neighborhoods North of the Ship Canal produce about 18 pounds of garbage per week and those South of the Canal are at about 22 pounds per week per house. The goal is to of course reduce output of waste, but also to probably raise some major awareness.

Tips offered:

Cancel junk mail, catalogs, and the phone book: http://www.DMAchoice.org is a great place to go for canceling junk mail - I personally did it and it doesn't take a ton of time.

Print double sides

Mulch your grass clipping instead of putting them in the green bin

Cloth towels instead of paper

Donate reusable items instead of throwing them away.

Stop buying water bottles!!!!

Compost your food scraps

The winning Seattle neighborhood will be the one with the most reduction in output by weight will be announced in May by CleanScapes and the $50,000 will be awarded to the neighborhood's residents to decide how to spend the money.

Other resources:

Downtown Seattle real estate

Seattle real estate

Green Seattle real estate

Green Seattle Realtor

Last month, we sold a wonderful Downtown Seattle Condo in the 98 Union building - right in the heart of Downtown Seattle with its own access to Pike Place Market! Here is what is gogin on with Union 98:

#410 in 98 Union - It is a zero bedroom studio although I would argue that the bedroom area was clearly divided and much more of a bedroom than the Gallery offered in their open bedroom concept "1 bedroom" condos so maybe my client can one day argue that it is indeed a one bedroom down the road since it is very much so in today's standards. This city view Downtown Seattle condo has 577 square feet and is on the 4th floor of the lovely 98 Union Building which is right at the Southeast edge of Pike Place Market.

Many people don't know this, but 98 Unionhas quite a different and unique form of ownership in regards to the home owners association. You really need to dig into the resale cert to get the full effect and then ask questions, look at the reserve studies and minutes, and then ask more questions. It is a wonderful building and really in the ideal location and shares the same Downtown Seattle "cul de sac" as 99 Union which happens to be the gorgeous Seattle Four Seasons. Puget Sound views and more, this building puts you in the very heart of Downtown Seattle living!

Current Downtown Seattle Condos available in 98 Union:

9th floor 2/1.75 969 sqft for $499,000 (water Puget Sound Bay, city, Mountain views)

9th floor 2/2 1263 sqft for $595,000 (bay, city views)

6th floor 2/2.5 1942 sqft with city and sound views (this one is very cool as it si a double condo that has 2 parking spots, kitchens, storage spaces, more!) $645,000

11th floor 2/2 1295 sqft for $749,000 city, bay, mountain views

Recent Downtown Seattle 98 Union Condo sales:

4th floor 0/1 577 sq ft listed at $259,000 sold for $245,500 closed 11/12/2009

11th floor 2/2 1263 sqft listed at $799,000 sold for $655,000 closed 8/11/2009

Downtown Seattle real estate: If you want more information about the structure of the homeowners association in 98 Union or why we think this is a great choice for Downtown Seattle condo living, let us know! We would love to show you some of our favorite units. We are also happy to help if you are thinking about selling your Downtown Seattle condo.

Twilight New Moon Midnight Showings in Seattle: Both Pacific Place & Cinerama are offering 12:01 AM showings of the latest in the Twilight Saga: New Moon. Other Seattle theatres offering midnight shows? Neptune in Wallingford, Thornton Place, Uptown 3, Majestic Bay in Ballard, Columbia City Cinema, Lincoln Square in Bellevue, Factoria 8, and Regal Crossroads.

My New Moon adventure: Mommy/daughter get away. I personally will be taking my little preteen to the prescreening show at 9:30 tonight at Pacific Place which was free through a Nordstrom promotion. We got some really cool keepsake lanyards and hopefully will get decent seats.

The Twilight New Moon movie is 2 hours and 10 minutes so be prepared to sleep in tomorrow if you want to join in, but also call ahead because I heard it might be sold out!!

Seattle Showings of New Moon:

http://www.google.com/movies?hl=en&near=pacific+place+seattle&dq=new+moon+pacific+place+seattle&sort=1&mid=1c34a797df83a177&ei=hJoFS9XlNJXUM9PywbEK&sa=X&oi=showtimes&ct=movie-link&cd=1&ved=0CAwQwAMoBA

Today marks the end of an era when the Seattle Center Fun Forest closed for good. As a beloved and former remnant of the 1962 World's Fair, the city opted to close the amusement park rides due to declining sales and an altered vision for the downtown cultural park.

I've enjoyed trips to the Fun Forest since moving to Seattle I was seven years old. Of course I had to relive once more my fond memories of my tiny urban amusement park, so I made one final pilgrimage to the play land yesterday afternoon.

The rides haven't changed too much over the years. The blue wind storm roller coaster is a slightly larger version of the red coaster that stood adjacent to Memorial Field. The log ride is in the same spot between the Monorail Station and EMP. What was different is the previous carnival-like atmosphere had all but completly faded.

I remember crowds of people previously swarmed the Fun Forest, especially on the weekends and on nice, sunny summer days. There were game booths brimming with plush prizes, vendors, performers and of course the "thrill" rides, though they're likely only somewhat thrilling to those 10 and under.

For me, the Fun Forest served as an important symbol. It was a small urban oasis in one of the Pacific Northwest's chief cities, which showed we had a softer side which appealed to the young and young at heart. I recall a time back in the late 1980's when Disney expressed strong interest in transforming Seattle Center into somewhat of an urban theme park attraction. The city really missed wishing upon that lucky star by not solidifying such a partnership. If the Fun Forest was once able to capture the imagination of Disney, just think of what might have been.

Alas, here we are today, living in a city where our historic landmarks cling on for dear life, shivering in the shadows of sprawling, squeaky-clean and high-rising multi-use development projects. Sure, the Fun Forest has always been a bit campy, but it was for so long a vibrant part of the pulse at the core of our city's soul. I always thought the very reason they named Seattle's former World's Fair campus "Seattle Center" because it is the very heart of our city.

It's the end of a great era, the Seattle Center Fun Forest is closed forever ...

Your success is my business!

Brad

www.JustRealSeattle.com