The Seattle City Council has been busy finalizing everything needed to reshape the South Lake Union skyline under new rezoning plans. Recently, they approved new square-footage fees to help pay for affordable housing in the area. And they also gave their blessing to Equity Office Properties to build multiple 125-foot-tall residential towers between Westlake and Dexter avenues north and Highland Drive and Galer Street a.k.a. the Westlake Panhandle.
That's around a third taller than what Mayor Mike McGinn had proposed as part of the South Lake Union rezone, but not as tall as Equity requested. Earlier this year, an Equity official asked the council to rezone the panhandle so 160-foot towers could be built. Hey, you take what you can get these days, Equity. Just ask Vulcan.
Longtime area resident Kenmore Air lobbed an objection at the towers, saying that the large buildings could interfere with plane safety. That objection is likely what kept the buildings from being any taller. As-is, expect the yet-to-be-determined towers to be in the 10-12 story range.
· Equity Office gets Seattle's OK for taller towers on Westlake Avenue [PSBJ]
· Seattle Unanimously Approved South Lake Union Affordable-Housing Fees [Curbed Seattle]