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Most Popular Listing

By Matt Goyer May 18, 2009

I’m getting bored of writing these most popular listing blog posts. I thought they’d turn up some interesting finds but turns out that’s not the case!

This week’s most popular listing is 606 E Thomas St Unit N. $166,900 for 500 square feet but no parking. Looks funky to say the least!

Personally I’m rooting for 1119 1st Ave #204:

Let me know if you’ve spotted something better!

I own and manage Urban Living, a boutique Seattle and Bellevue real estate brokerage. I love lofts, floating homes, new construction, and mid-century moderns, but I will help you buy or sell just about anything!

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24 responses to “Most Popular Listing”

stone says:

May 19, 2009 at 1:02 pm

Don't root too hard. Exceedingly nice pad. however, it is unfortunately right above the exit off 99. I wish I could transplant it somewhere, with less pollutants; I'm going to bet the windows are up to par for the noise level.
stone says:

May 19, 2009 at 1:02 pm

Don't root too hard. Exceedingly nice pad. however, it is unfortunately right above the exit off 99. I wish I could transplant it somewhere, with less pollutants; I'm going to bet the windows are up to par for the noise level.
stone says:

May 19, 2009 at 1:02 pm

Don't root too hard. Exceedingly nice pad. however, it is unfortunately right above the exit off 99. I wish I could transplant it somewhere, with less pollutants; I'm going to bet the windows are up to par for the noise level.
Marce says:

May 19, 2009 at 3:20 pm

Those are the same cabinets in the 1st ave listing that my parents had before they remodeled in 1987. Awesome.
Marce says:

May 19, 2009 at 3:20 pm

Those are the same cabinets in the 1st ave listing that my parents had before they remodeled in 1987. Awesome.
Marce says:

May 19, 2009 at 3:20 pm

Those are the same cabinets in the 1st ave listing that my parents had before they remodeled in 1987. Awesome.
CameronRex says:

May 19, 2009 at 4:26 pm

What interesting timing on the 1119 post. I walked by this building just last week and was trying to figure out if was living or office space. Very nice, central location. It will only be next to the on ramp for another few years if we assume the replacement of the viaduct with a tunnel actually will happen. Its close to several restaurants as well.
CameronRex says:

May 19, 2009 at 4:26 pm

What interesting timing on the 1119 post. I walked by this building just last week and was trying to figure out if was living or office space. Very nice, central location. It will only be next to the on ramp for another few years if we assume the replacement of the viaduct with a tunnel actually will happen. Its close to several restaurants as well.
CameronRex says:

May 19, 2009 at 4:26 pm

What interesting timing on the 1119 post. I walked by this building just last week and was trying to figure out if was living or office space. Very nice, central location. It will only be next to the on ramp for another few years if we assume the replacement of the viaduct with a tunnel actually will happen. Its close to several restaurants as well.
marksparky says:

May 20, 2009 at 11:27 am

that 'funky' place on Thomas actually looks like it has some very nice craftsman trim, especially considering the price point. It's a matter of taste and definitely not for the contempo-stylists, but for someone who likes the craftsman look, it looks great. To find such woodwork not painted over multiple times is rare.
marksparky says:

May 20, 2009 at 11:27 am

that 'funky' place on Thomas actually looks like it has some very nice craftsman trim, especially considering the price point. It's a matter of taste and definitely not for the contempo-stylists, but for someone who likes the craftsman look, it looks great. To find such woodwork not painted over multiple times is rare.
EconE says:

May 20, 2009 at 5:26 pm

That first one is definitely “old fashioned”. Funky is a good word.

What's the deal with that tennis court for the other one? Who gets to use it? I thought it was part of the neighboring complex but never knew for sure.
EconE says:

May 20, 2009 at 5:26 pm

That first one is definitely “old fashioned”. Funky is a good word.

What's the deal with that tennis court for the other one? Who gets to use it? I thought it was part of the neighboring complex but never knew for sure.
Ross says:

May 20, 2009 at 6:05 pm

The tennis court is on top of the parking garage which is the building west of the colonial pacific. I'm pretty sure parking is not included with the unit (rents for around $200/mo), but I think there was some sort of access agreement to the tennis court that the colonial pacific had. I toured a couple units in that building last year, but the details are getting foggy.

One of the 2 buildings that forms the colonial pacific used to be a hotel. It's a nice building and great downtown location (except for the highway).
Ross says:

May 20, 2009 at 6:05 pm

The tennis court is on top of the parking garage which is the building west of the colonial pacific. I'm pretty sure parking is not included with the unit (rents for around $200/mo), but I think there was some sort of access agreement to the tennis court that the colonial pacific had. I toured a couple units in that building last year, but the details are getting foggy.

One of the 2 buildings that forms the colonial pacific used to be a hotel. It's a nice building and great downtown location (except for the highway).
EconE says:

May 21, 2009 at 5:53 pm

Thanks Ross
EconE says:

May 21, 2009 at 5:53 pm

Thanks Ross
Don says:

May 27, 2009 at 5:24 pm

Yo Matt,
I'm not sure I'm excited about your pairing your no doubt well earned BLOG fatigue and my Coop in the same sentance.
Don says:

May 27, 2009 at 5:24 pm

Yo Matt,
I'm not sure I'm excited about your pairing your no doubt well earned BLOG fatigue and my Coop in the same sentance.
bowwow says:

May 29, 2009 at 10:12 pm

I live in 1119 1st Ave. Bit of history on the condo: It's composed of 2 buildings, the Grand Pacific Hotel (red brick, 1899) and the Colonial Hotel (cream brick, 1902). The buildings were gold-rush era hotels and are national register listed – http://www.nps.gov/archive/klse/hrs/hrs6a3.htm has a good article with some vintage photos.

By the early 80's, the buildings had deteriorated; the upper floors were uninhabitable and the 1st Ave street level retail was occupied by, IIRC, a liquor store, an army/navy surplus store, and a peep show. Cornerstone bought the whole block in 1982 and in exchange for preserving the historic buildings (and having bought their air rights…) were granted a height variance to build the Watermark Tower next door (where the McCormick & Schmicks is.) They gut-renovated the Colonial and Grand Pacific buildings and built out the upper 3 floors as condos in 1982 – the 1st ave street level is retail and there are offices between the 1st ave and Post Alley levels of the building. An unremarkable mexican restaurant (formerly an Azteca, I think) is at the corner of Post Alley and Seneca; an okay street pizza place (Post Alley Pizza) is across the alley.

The buildings are in great shape – they don't build them like they used to – and all the units have double-pane insulated glass retrofitted into the old doors/sash windows/transoms. Still, not all of units are created equal. The noisiest units by far are on the 1st Ave side – the worst is the cruising traffic that backs up from Pioneer Square on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights; lots of car stereos competing for attention. They also have, basically, views of the Safeco building across the street. No surprise that 306, 309, and 211 have been on the market for a long time. The North-facing units (like 204) aren't as bad except the x06 units on the corner of 1st and Seneca. Off-ramp traffic isn't very noisy; the cars are all slowing to a stop by the time they approach the building.

The primo units are on the west (really, southwest) face of the building. They are very quiet and get the views of the tennis court, the bay, and West Seattle, along with unobstructed afternoon sun. Our unit faces west and has 2 huge double-hung windows in the living room; we grow a bumper crop of tomatoes every year in pots on our windowsills, which are about 18 inches deep. Even with the windows open, the viaduct is far enough away that it's white noise; with the windows closed you can't hear it at all.

Ross is right; no parking is deeded to the unit, just the right to rent a space in the garage across the skybridge at $200-mumble a month. We actually don't own a car; since we both live within walking distance to work, it's cheaper to just rent a car every weekend from the Hertz at 7th & Pike (or any one of a dozen Zipcars within 2 blocks, but Hertz is cheaper) than to park a car downtown (to say nothing of the cost of buying and insuring the car.) The tennis court is accessible to all units whether or not you rent a parking spot in the garage, and is a really sweet amenity.

It is really an unbeatable location and will only get better if they actually build the 1st Ave streetcar. I'm ambivalent about the Viaduct; from our unit it's not really an eyesore and I'm spoiled by how quickly we get to/from the airport by cab with it. Still, the waterfront will be immeasurably improved by its demise, and our units will probably see some appreciation when it's gone.
bowwow says:

May 29, 2009 at 10:12 pm

I live in 1119 1st Ave. Bit of history on the condo: It's composed of 2 buildings, the Grand Pacific Hotel (red brick, 1899) and the Colonial Hotel (cream brick, 1902). The buildings were gold-rush era hotels and are national register listed – http://www.nps.gov/archive/klse/hrs/hrs6a3.htm has a good article with some vintage photos.

By the early 80's, the buildings had deteriorated; the upper floors were uninhabitable and the 1st Ave street level retail was occupied by, IIRC, a liquor store, an army/navy surplus store, and a peep show. Cornerstone bought the whole block in 1982 and in exchange for preserving the historic buildings (and having bought their air rights…) were granted a height variance to build the Watermark Tower next door (where the McCormick & Schmicks is.) They gut-renovated the Colonial and Grand Pacific buildings and built out the upper 3 floors as condos in 1982 – the 1st ave street level is retail and there are offices between the 1st ave and Post Alley levels of the building. An unremarkable mexican restaurant (formerly an Azteca, I think) is at the corner of Post Alley and Seneca; an okay street pizza place (Post Alley Pizza) is across the alley.

The buildings are in great shape – they don't build them like they used to – and all the units have double-pane insulated glass retrofitted into the old doors/sash windows/transoms. Still, not all of units are created equal. The noisiest units by far are on the 1st Ave side – the worst is the cruising traffic that backs up from Pioneer Square on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights; lots of car stereos competing for attention. They also have, basically, views of the Safeco building across the street. No surprise that 306, 309, and 211 have been on the market for a long time. The North-facing units (like 204) aren't as bad except the x06 units on the corner of 1st and Seneca. Off-ramp traffic isn't very noisy; the cars are all slowing to a stop by the time they approach the building.

The primo units are on the west (really, southwest) face of the building. They are very quiet and get the views of the tennis court, the bay, and West Seattle, along with unobstructed afternoon sun. Our unit faces west and has 2 huge double-hung windows in the living room; we grow a bumper crop of tomatoes every year in pots on our windowsills, which are about 18 inches deep. Even with the windows open, the viaduct is far enough away that it's white noise; with the windows closed you can't hear it at all.

Ross is right; no parking is deeded to the unit, just the right to rent a space in the garage across the skybridge at $200-mumble a month. We actually don't own a car; since we both live within walking distance to work, it's cheaper to just rent a car every weekend from the Hertz at 7th & Pike (or any one of a dozen Zipcars within 2 blocks, but Hertz is cheaper) than to park a car downtown (to say nothing of the cost of buying and insuring the car.) The tennis court is accessible to all units whether or not you rent a parking spot in the garage, and is a really sweet amenity.

It is really an unbeatable location and will only get better if they actually build the 1st Ave streetcar. I'm ambivalent about the Viaduct; from our unit it's not really an eyesore and I'm spoiled by how quickly we get to/from the airport by cab with it. Still, the waterfront will be immeasurably improved by its demise, and our units will probably see some appreciation when it's gone.
Danile says:

May 30, 2009 at 9:56 am

Thx Bowow for all the interesting info. I live in the Harbor Steps right next door and I've always wondered about those buildings. I like the area alot as well.
Danile says:

May 30, 2009 at 9:56 am

Thx Bowow for all the interesting info. I live in the Harbor Steps right next door and I've always wondered about those buildings. I like the area alot as well.
Danile says:

May 30, 2009 at 4:56 pm

Thx Bowow for all the interesting info. I live in the Harbor Steps right next door and I've always wondered about those buildings. I like the area alot as well.

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