I'm sick of glass exoskeletons. They aren't the bees knees of architecture. Oh how I miss concrete.

Unrelated--I generally steer clear from 3rd-1st for reasons mentioned nowhere in this post.

(2) I know we are all supposed to hate cars, but reality dictates that at least some of the condo residents and hotel guests will have cars. It needs to have a parking garage of some sort. There needs to be a parking ramp somewhere. Where do you suggest they put it?

(3) I've never understood the whole concept of mixing a hotel/condo. I'm quite content with condo living, but can't think of a single reason I'd want to live in a condo that was half-hotel. Anyone know why this has become more popular in recent years?

Exactly.

And, hey, has anyone ever tried to shoot up with the tip of the space needle?

Yeah, it's better than a parking lot. But really, we should be way past the point where that's our standard of acceptable urban design.

Me, I'd never go for it. Towering Inferno made way too big an impression on me.

just make sure it has rain canopies for the dealers & users. wouldn't want them to get wet.

and to the homeless person who took a giant shit on the pike place market hillclimb this morning outside the exit door of my garage: there's an automatic toilet 100 yards from where you had your nasty ass blowout.

My thoughts exactly.

Back to the drawing board, folks! We know you can do better than this.

The ground floor facing Second Avenue, under the current proposal, is partially masked by nine-foot-deep shrubs between the sidewalk and the windows, violating a design guideline for "transparency." Several of the windows look in only a few feet on another wall, rather than a lobby or business. According the design board’s Wilmot Gilland, the entrances seemed too narrow “should be wider.” But in the end, the design board seemed mostly satisfied with the plan, which prompted city planer Jess Harris to clarify: “Are you supporting this concept—a departure from transparency?”

“I think it’s a good concept… I’m concerned about the lack of transparency,” replied Matt Allert, a member of the design review board, who noted, “I want to see what they do with it.”

Very bad idea, sadly.

Yeah, the design board needs to push to get some businesses in there. It's across from, what? The Turf? Just about anything could go in that spot and thrive, as long as it's not another drug store. Big expanses of windows would also be nice.

Slightly off topic: does anyone else think the OPUS building going up on Second (shown partially complete here) is the ugliest thing ever? There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to the design of the white elements. I realize they're going for a Two Union square thing, but Jesus. The pattern of the multicolored glass makes no sense either. That and it's covered by these ugly tiny white dots. I seriously hope they're not finished with the outside, because god damn it's terrible.

Pretty, ridiculously transparent-looking renderings + iffy relationship to the street = FAIL

It's got a nice shape, but that's all.

Two words: Weber+Thompson.

I rest my case.

This building is really shaping up nicely. As has been said here, it would be a total waste if it didn't provide enough street level retail. This is the wrong place to skimp on that.

I like the green in the second rendering. Seattle needs more green glass, like 333 West Wacker Drive in Chicago.

http://www.december.com/places/chi/images/333wack.jpg

http://lh4.ggpht.com/aritem/RsIssRPEjbI/AAAAAAAAA4M/4s070z7GZgY/elevated.jpg?imgmax=720

A city heals...

And hotel-condos are SO Bellevue.

"NO, YOU CANNOT HAVE IT LIKE THIS. DO IT OVER."

Floors 3-(whatever) are great, though.

THIRD BASE!