Ballard: Danielle Tour and Photos

Over the weekend I toured a couple of the new construction buildings in Ballard including the Danielle, a boutique condominium of 31 units located at 5803 24th Ave NW. Jae, from TeamBuilder JLS, was kind enough to give me the tour (thanks Jae!) but preferred to provide photos, instead of giving me free reign with my point-and-shoot.

So, first, let’s get a few things straight. The Danielle is not a loft building, it is not located on Capitol Hill, it’s not marketed as a green building, and it keeps its community amenities to a minimum. It is, however, located 3 short blocks from the happening retail, bar, and restaurant center of Ballard, has a killer 360-degree view of the surrounding area from the rooftop, and is a new construction offering – something that could get a bit scarce in the next year or two.

And, if you are looking to buy new construction in Ballard, this is one of the buildings you are looking at.

The basics:

• Built in 2010
• 1st unit sold last September, 14 units sold since then, leaving 16 available units
• 1-bedroom prices range from $230K-$310K, 646-764 sq ft
• 2 bedrooms from $450k-$500K, 1250 sq ft
• One remaining penthouse is $600K, 1260 sq ft
• HOA dues are $0.35/sq ft

Information above and beyond what you can find on the Danielle’s website:

• The building is of wood-frame construction; however, there is concrete between the floors and additional soundproofing padding which provides buffer for noise between floors (not as quiet as you might get in a concrete and steel building but still something to speak of).
• May eventually see a 10-story development to the west of the building. But northwest and northeast views are fairly secure as there’s been a fair amount of infill in past years (making the immediate neighborhood less attractive to developers looking for larger parcels to build on).
• The rooftop is made of the highest grade materials and has a lifetime warranty (a positive for HOA dues because roof maintenance is something that can affect the balance).
• In terms of finishes, buyers have options: 4 different cabinet finishes available in various layouts plus closets are outfitted to buyer’s selection. Even the one remaining penthouse is unfinished, allowing the buyer to make a full range of choices on finishes, etc.

I really liked the premium wood floors, especially in combination with the lighter cabinet finish pictured below.

But I wasn’t so keen on the following 1-bedroom layout because the kitchen felt small, with not nearly enough counter space for my cooking-self.

Last, the Danielle’s no-frills nature is almost a relief (there’s no concierge, or common areas beyond the entry, rooftop, and garage). If you have lived in a building with one of those guilt-inducing workout rooms then you know what I’m talking about. However, I do wish there was a bike rack or bike storage room considering its an easy bike ride down to the Burke-Gilman trail which connects you to the University District and beyond.