I love reading the Dept. of Planning and Developments “Land use Information Bulletin” in the morning. Not because it’s as dry as toast and goes well with coffee but because it provides me with exciting news for me to pass along to you, my loyal readers…..and I’ve got a doozy of a scoop for you today!

There will be TWO new high-rise apartments buildings going up soon in the northend of Belltown. A 19-story at 2625 3rd Avenue and a 17-story at 311 Cedar Street. The good news is they will bring more retail space and I’m hoping for some good Teriyaki and a Jelly Belly shop. There will be commercial space as well and I trust they’ve got tenants lined up. The best news are all the rental units available to make up for the loss of the unlucky McGuire building.

What’s the bad news? Just ask the homeowners at Mosler Lofts and Seattle Heights. They’ve just gotten the awful reminder that an open view is never guaranteed. Each complex will have some of its Association members unhappy with the loss of a portion of their view….and there’s nothing they can do about it.

We have a height restriction chart on our site (Seattle Height Restrictions) providing you with a guideline of what COULD happen around town. It shows the maximum height a new building can be anywhere within the colored coded zone. You know why we spent time creating it….to remind us all that nothing stays the same. New opportunities will bring progress and Seattle Savvy doesn’t want some brand new big building stuck in front of your window to come as a shocking surprise.

As a resident of the Montreux, I often marvel at the view of the skyline from our pretty fabulous rooftop deck.  Dave and I stand up there and “ooh n’ ahh” about the golden color reflecting off the 27-story Grandview Condos as it towers over every other building within two blocks. Dave likes the fact that every unit has a great view. I take a big slurp of my cherry coke and point out the  west side of the Cosmopolitan. “Those buyers thought they had a great view too.” I say in a somber tone. Dave’s naturally pale completion bursts into a red hue as he begins a long diatribe on how “somebody” should write a post about how nothing is guaranteed and that it’s our job to help buyers perform the due diligence needed to make the best buying decisions of their lives.

After all, no one wants to share their morning coffee and toast with a neighbor living only a short alleys distance away.

With love….Somebody.