Amazon wins city approval for new Seattle towers
Nov 29, 2012, 11:53 AM | Updated: Oct 10, 2024, 2:08 pm
The city of Seattle has approved Amazon.com's proposed three-block highrise complex downtown. (Seattle DPD image)
(Seattle DPD image)
The Seattle skyline will be getting a major addition after the city on Thursday approved Amazon.com’s proposed three-block highrise office complex in the Denny Triangle downtown.
>>>Photo Gallery: Proposed Amazon towers
The company plans to build a tower 37 or 38 stories tall along with a smaller building on each of the three block, The Seattle Times reports.
The Department of Planning and Development approval paves the way for a dramatic change to the neighborhood and replaces such long time low rise businesses like Toyota of Seattle in the area surrounded by Sixth Avenue, Blanchard Street, and Westlake Avenue.
The proposed complex would be downtown Seattle’s biggest ever, with about 3.3 million square feet of office space along with 53,000 square feet of shops and restaurants. It would also feature underground parking for over 3,000 cars.
Demolition and construction on the first block could start next year.
The city approval came after a number of hearings and changes required by the board. The city is also making Amazon pay for an additional South Lake Union streetcar for 10 years to help mitigate the impact on the area.
Earlier this year, the company also reached a deal with Paul Allen’s Vulcan Real Estate to purchase its 1.8 million-square-foot South Lake Union headquarters. The $1.16 billion deal for the 11 buildings is expected to close by the end of the year, the Times reports.
