‘Fifty Shades’ no big deal to Seattle condo owners

Much of the domestic interaction in the wildly popular
“Fifty Shades of Grey” books by E. L. James takes place in
a downtown Seattle penthouse, but the controversial series
has done little to boost sales in the condominium
building.

“In fact, I doubt if any of our residents have even read
the books,” said Erik Mehr, director of sales at Escala,
the Belltown high-rise and fictional home of Fifty Shades’
billionaire Christian Grey.

Grey’s escapades with lead character Anastasia Steele
occur in the building’s plush penthouse. However, unlike
depicted in the books, there is no helicopter pad on
Escala’s roof.

According to Mehr, only one of Escala’s four penthouses,
priced at $6.7 million for a basic shell and containing
5,200-square feet, has sold. Of the building’s 269 total
units, 190 have sold, including one to San Francisco
Giants’ pitcher Tim Lincecum. Prices start at $400,000.

Units at Escala are shown only by appointment. In the past
two years, potential buyer traffic has remained
consistent. Approximately 75 buyers per week tour the
units.

“It’s critical that we respect the privacy of our owners,”
Mehr said. “People off the street can’t just come in and
have free run of the building.”