Mixed-use buildings bring mixed feelings

Seattle Times, Mixed-use buildings bring mixed feelings:

Developers have been putting up residential buildings near office buildings in downtown Seattle for years, hoping to attract empty nesters and young professionals who want to live within walking distance of their jobs, trendy restaurants and shops.

Now, a growing number of developers are putting condos and apartments inside office buildings as they try to capitalize on downtown’s popularity as a place to live and work.

I think many young professionals working long hours would find a condo+office project appealing. Lawyers and Googlers seem a likely target market. My chief concern with the co-mingling is that office towers are seldomly located where there is any culture. It’s for this reason that while I like 5th and Madison (while just a straight up condo project is close to my office) I don’t consider it a true option.