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On Jan. 1, the uber-green Bullitt Center started going for Living Building certification. It needs 365 continuous days at net-zero energy and water. So far, so good. (We busted our New Year's resolution on Jan. 2, so this is quite impressive.)  Bullitt Foundation CEO Denis Hayes says that the building not only uses a lot less energy that a to-code conventional building of the same size—147,260 kWh for the year vs. more than 593,000 kWh–-but the building also generates more than 252,000 kWh using the solar panels on its hat. It doesn't take any energy from the grid; in fact, it adds to it. Seattle's cloudy and the building could still do that; other cities should be embarrassed if they don't, Denis says.  By the way, did you remember Earth Day yesterday? It's not clear whether that's Earth's birthday or anniversary, but either way, get it a card. (Printed on recycled paper.) The 85% occupied Bullitt Center celebrated its first birthday yesterday, too.  On the topic of green, the GSA is consolidating federal agencies to promote efficiency and lower the government's carbon footprint. It's identified 19 of its properties across the country for consolidation, which the agency says will save $17M in annual rent payments and reduce annual leasing costs by more than $38M. In Seattle, the focus of the consolidation will be Bank of America Fifth Ave and the Jackson Federal Building (pictured). |
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Come to Seattle, Get a Job Seattle's the No. 7 best city in the nation for finding a job, according to WalletHub. The company cited Seattle's "high starting salaries, the fact that a large percentage of the workforce has private health insurance, and a rapidly decreasing unemployment rate.” We're No. 5 in starting salaries, with a median of more than $3,300 a month (that's bound spur the demand for apartments, and venti mocha frappuccinos with soy mocha drizzles). WalletHub also reports that Seattle is No. 3 in percentage of residents with at least a bachelor's: 56.6%. |
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Jobs = Apartments |
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 Oak Coast Properties CEO Matthew Heslin cites the Renton and Tukwila submarkets' low unemployment rate—4.4%—as a prime motivator for his recent acquisition of Sunset View Apartment Homes in Renton for $22M. The California-based company is planning a variety of upgrades to take advantage of property's proximity to employers with heft, such as SeaTac Airport and Boeing. |
 Historic low market vacancy, along with strong employment forecasts, point to rental demand growing well beyond existing supply, Matthew explains. Immediate renovations are likely to include kitchen upgrades, lighting improvements, finish details on cabinetry, balcony improvements, and washers and dryers in units currently without. (If you already have one, then you'll get a free hug from the Snuggle detergent bear.) |
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Open Space Isn't the Final Word We had a chat with our sponsor MBI Seattle prez Jay Harmeyer recently, and he tells us the up-and-coming trend in office space design isn't fully open space—though tech companies like that a lot—or a reaction back toward private offices and cubical farms. Instead, companies are picking and choosing the elements that best fit their corporate culture. It's perfectly possible to design a productive, modern office with both open and more private spaces. MBI provides furniture, space planning, and facility management to corporate offices and healthcare facilities in greater Puget Sound. |
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