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It's around 400,000, which means it's growing again.
MPLS_TC stated "Minneapolis will never see a density higher than seattle has right now in its lifetime." Minneapolis has already had higher density than Seattle currently has. That said, I'm not sure why you had to chime in. Whatever the case, I do agree with you that density is overrated.
My point is not to claim the city isn't growing but to highlight how futile it is to compare the past to the present. Of every city listed, only one is not currently at its high water mark in terms of population. It is slowly trending up again, and it anchors a metro area that is at its high water mark, but to make an argument about density based off 1950 numbers is a little pointless.
You agree with me that density is overrated, so why not drop it as a talking point? Is Minneapolis not a great city regardless of its density? You listed a few major projects. Are those going to make it a better city even if they don't boost density numbers? My guess is you believe they will, and I'd definitely agree with you on that. So why argue a losing argument on a subject you agree is overrated? Join me in rejecting density as the litmus test for a real city!
Underground / Elevated Light Rail
Seattle is currently constructing an underground and elevated lightrail system which will connect Downtown to Capitol Hill, the University of Washington, University District, Roosevelt district, Northgate district, 145th, and further north to Lynwood. Capitol Hill, UW, UD, and Roosevelt will have its lightrail line underground, whereas the lightrail will continue north on an elevated track to Northgate and beyond.
New Seattle Central Waterfront / Underground Highway
Seattle is currently using the world's largest boring machine (affectionately named Bertha) to dig a tunnel underneath downtown to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct. In this tunnel will be a new underground highway. Due to mechanic complications, Bertha is delayed and won't start back up until next year (Spring 2015). Once the Alaskan Way Viaduct is replaced and torn down, Seattle will build a new waterfront with more park space, attractions, and pedestrian-friendly features.
Here are design images for the new Central Waterfront (scheduled to be completed in 2020): WATERFRONT SEATTLE.org: DESIGN
Downtown High Rise Projects
Like most big cities in the US right now, Seattle is seeing a lot of activity downtown. With the rezoning of South Lake Union from light industrial use to mixed use a few years ago, we're seeing a lot of high density infill. Seattle's building boom is of course largely thanks to Amazon's massive growth.
There are too many 6-FLOOR buildings under construction throughout the city to list off (most being built in South Lake Union, Ballard, Lower Queen Anne, and Capitol Hill)... so I'll focus on just the high rise developments in Downtown. Here is a list of the more noteworthy current developments (under construction and proposed):
Amazon Towers | 523ft | 521ft | 520ft (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
Amazon's fire hot growth is culminating in the construction of three towers. These three towers will also be accompanied by a glass biosphere.
Source: http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/AppDocs/G...endaID3744.pdf
Insignia Towers | 440 FT | 440 FT | 41 FLOORS | TWO TOWERS (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
Insignia Towers is a $450 million 41-story twin tower condominium development in Seattle’s Belltown district. It will be Seattle’s largest condominium complex when completed with 707 units encompassing an entire city block.
Source: Insignia Seattle
I believe this is the big story in Seattle, right?
Quote:
Real estate developer Greg Smith said he plans to build the tallest skyscraper in downtown Seattle on a site where the famous Metropolitan Grill steakhouse operates.
At 77 stories, it would be one floor taller than Seattle's tallest building, Columbia Center.
Smith, CEO of Urban Visions, a privately held Seattle real estate development and brokerage company, said he has applied to the city for a master-use permit to build the skyscraper.
Construction won't start anytime soon. It can take a year or more to get the city's OK. Then a developer has to line up financing and wait for the market to ripen before starting to build. Smith thinks the time is right to start getting the city's approval, but said, “We are not in a rush. It's a long process.”
Smith is working with his brother, Mickey Smith, a principal at Martin Smith Inc., on the project. Martin Smith Inc. is a real estate investment and management company.
The tower is planned for most of the block between Second and Third avenues and Marion and Columbia streets. The Smiths and some co-investors have owned the property for years. Greg Smith declined to name the friends and family that own the property, though Jim Rowe, president of Consolidated Restaurants, which owns the Metropolitan Grill, said Consolidated is part of the group that owns that building.
Rowe and Greg Smith said the Met, a 30-year-old steakhouse, will be part of the new tower. Rowe said his company’s goal is to preserve the Met “as one of Seattle’s longstanding iconic restaurants” in the same location.
If the building design has a spire or antennae then it will almost assuredly be the tallest free-standing (building) structure west of the Mississippi River. If it doesn't have either one, then probably behind Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Is that super tall going to be the Xcel HQ building? How tall are they saying it will be?
Nope. The new Xcel will be below the Target Field in the second photo I posted. It will be on the same block as the Nic on Fifth and 4Marq.
Keep in mind that the taller tower is a proposal. The owner of the property hasn't released many details. Unlike the other projects in that second photo, the tower is not a for sure thing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GatsbyGatz
YIMBY, can you give a link to a source about Minne's new tallest? Couldn't find any info on it.
The owner is looking to build a tower that will be between 600,000 - 800,000 and it will be 40-60 stories. It will be tall because of the footprint - 1/4-block corner block.
BTW, there are also plans to build a new convention center hotel and some of the proposals have it between 700 - 1,000 feet. That tower would be just to the left in the second photo.
Underground / Elevated Light Rail
Seattle is currently constructing an underground and elevated lightrail system which will connect Downtown to Capitol Hill, the University of Washington, University District, Roosevelt district, Northgate district, 145th, and further north to Lynwood. Capitol Hill, UW, UD, and Roosevelt will have its lightrail line underground, whereas the lightrail will continue north on an elevated track to Northgate and beyond.
That great to hear that Seattle is expanding its light rail subway system. Seems like the city solidly establishing itself as having the 3rd best mass transit system in the Western US after San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Wow, it's been a while since I've been on denver-cityscape. A 590 foot tower in that part of downtown will look great. Especially a nice looking one like that.
Wow, it's been a while since I've been on denver-cityscape. A 590 foot tower in that part of downtown will look great. Especially a nice looking one like that.
I agree! Hopefully everything comes together. Denver could use some more medium height buildings.
I agree! Hopefully everything comes together. Denver could use some more medium height buildings.
Medium height is fine. I care more about adding a little more variety in the skyline. A lot of the current mid rises are boxy. Denver's skyline blew up in the 1980s, but its highest buildings from that era are surprisingly well designed for the period. If they can add in some nice mid-rises that diversify the appearance of the skyline it would really add a lot to it. To me design is incredibly important. More important than height, even. Philadelphia has a great skyline, other than that hideous box that sticks out over the top. In Denver in the 1990s there were rumors of a 320m/85 floor tower called Trango Tower. I'm so glad it was never built. The sketches of that thing were ugly as sin and Denver's skyline is better for not having it.
It would be nice if someone could ever get Tabor 2 off the ground, though. That's another nice looking mid-rise that would be a good face lift for the city.
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