A Visit to John Street Lofts

Last weekend, Seattle Land Broker invited me over to check out a Build Urban-designed project called John Street Lofts. This project is currently under construction and slated to be complete as of Feb 10; however, the townhouses are being offered for presale (well, 2606 E John is but 2608 E John just went pending yesterday).

John Street Lofts is a pair of townhouses located in Madison Valley a half a block from the Alley House 2. Targeted for 5-star Built Green, each townhouse has 3 levels plus a rooftop deck, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and 1,650 square feet. The unit that just went under contract is listed for $480K and the available unit is $470K.

If you’ve had the chance to drive by lately then you’ve seen the exterior is largely finished. My thoughts from the visit include:

• Thumbs up to the concrete floors with radiant heat and the floor to ceiling windows.
• Each level felt spacious but I think there are still a few partitions to put in between stairs and bedrooms on the 2nd & 3rd levels so tough to call.
• Nicely sized master suites and the master baths are on the large side of average with a separate shower and bath which I like.
• The rooftop decks are big and outfitted with gas, plus they are on slightly different levels from one another for those that don’t want to look directly at their neighbors.
• Parking is on the east side of the building (uncovered?) and 2608 looks to have a sliding glass door that opens to it (plans indicate it is a juliet balcony overlooking the car park)
• It was too cloudy to tell if you get Rainier views or not, but probably — or at least from the upper floors?
• Many windows and opportunity at natural light on most floors, but the first level of 2606 seemed challenged in that area (was wishing for a bigger window on the front side)
• Every bedroom had a fair-sized walk-in closet and the master has a secondary closet as well; however, lacking in enclosed garage space, mud room, or storage space for those that collect hockey/ski/bike gear like Matt does.

Those readers that like to see stairs situated in the middle between units have your wish at John Street Lofts, and those that complain about not having a bathroom on the same level as the kitchen and living area will again be disappointed. Of course, Matt will also be disappointed that the kitchen and living areas are on the first floor rather than top — one of his common critiques for most multi-level dwellings :) — but the large decks on the rooftop go a ways in making up for it.

Overall, I’m looking forward to seeing the final product when the open stair system with custom steel railings are in place; plus, the fully outfitted kitchen and baths.

I took many, many photos (all of which are here) and here is a choice few of 2608’s master bedroom, stairway, and rooftop deck: