Smith Tower applies to convert from offices to condos

[flamingyouth]

The Smith Tower may soon be a place to call home.

The owner of the Seattle's first skyscraper filed an application Wednesday to convert it from offices to condominiums. In a news release Thursday, Walton Street Capital said it "is beginning to explore the opportunity" to change the use.

Walton Street Capital bought the 42-story white terra-cotta landmark from the Samis Foundation for $42.8 million last April and paid Samis another $1 million for the adjacent two-story Florence Building. Samis bought the tower a decade earlier for $7.6 million and undertook a $28-million renovation to update it and restore its elegance.

Just after the sale, Walton officials said they planned no major changes, other than to seek office tenants and fill an empty ground-floor retail space.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/304722_tower23ww.html
:banghead:

[Fenris]

1. Disgusting.

Absolutely disgusting.

[eridani]

2. Why?

There's plenty of office space in Seattle, and I'd think condo owners would be the types that are nutz about historical preservation.

[RobertSeattle]

3. I have no problem with that

The older buildings just aren't that practical work for modern business. I'd rather a well maintained condo building rather than a decrepit smith tower that can't find tenants.

[flamingyouth]

5. I think it would be a real shame to lose access to the observation deck

...and the Chinese Room, which are historic landmarks and should be enjoyed by everyone, not just by the people who can afford to buy units there.

[LisaM]

6. Yes, I agree with you.

It is a public landmark.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. I love architecture, so I looked up this building.

I absolutely agree with you. I would not want to live here and would be nervous if I had a business appt. here. But I am always glad to hear when a historic building is saved. In Europe, people still live and work in buildings that are centuries old. In this country, everything is knocked down in the name of progress. :-(

The Smith Tower