DEVELOPMENTS
News about construction projects underway
Posted August 2007
The last construction beams are in place, the paint is dry and the duvets are neatly folded; Sheraton Seattle’s Union Street Tower opened June 8 for those pursuing business, pleasure or a little of both.
The 25-story tower brings 420 guest rooms to the heart of Seattle’s retail district. A larger lobby and 16 conference rooms were also part of the three-phase development. All told, Sheraton Seattle now offers 1,258 rooms and 75,000 sq. ft. of function space. That surpasses the room count at Seattle’s next-largest hotel, the Westin, by 41 percent. The two hotels are five blocks away from each other and both owned by Starwood Hotels, which also owns Seattle’s contemporary W Hotel.
The $130 million project multiplied the size of the Grand Ballroom to 18,300 sq. ft., which improved the hotel’s ability to host a number of events, galas and meetings simultaneously.
“The eagerly-awaited addition to the Sheraton Seattle offers a major convention selling feature for Seattle,” said Don Welsh, President and CEO of Seattle’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, in a statement. "Seattle now boasts a 1,000-plus room block within a single hotel property and within close proximity to the Washington State Convention and Trade Center."
The major build-out comes as Seattle’s hotel industry is enjoying incredible success across three key measurements as reported by Smith Travel Research. Between 2005 and 2006, Seattle's average daily room rate increased nearly 12 percent, trailing only two other markets. Also, the revenue per available room in Seattle increased 15.4 percent in that same time period, second in the nation. Guest room occupancy topped 70 percent last year, ranking fourth in the U.S.
The Daily Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in its 7,000 sq. ft. restaurant that seats more than 200 guests. A 10-year management contract between Sheraton and restaurant operator Grill Concepts ensures the ability to provide fresh seafood, unique appetizers and a selection of desserts to the hotel’s guests.
Upon completion, High Streets Shopping Center in Issaquah could accommodate 60 stores and serve as a workplace for 1,000 people employed in the shops and the 105,000 sq. ft. of office space above the retail.
The open-air lifestyle center will sit on the equivalent of four blocks in The Issaquah Highlands, a collection of more than 3,000 houses, condos and apartments under the direction of Port Blakely Communities.
High Streets Shopping Center is expected to employ about 1,000 people and generate $10 million in sales tax revenue. The city's Urban Village Development Commission approved development in June.
Construction will come in seven phases, with completion of the first expected by the end of 2007. A dual-level parking garage behind the shopping center will supplement ground-level stalls that the complex surrounds.
Port Blakely Communities and Opus Northwest will develop the shopping center, using University Village as the template. They hope to attract a mix of national stores and local retailers, much like U Village, and create the feel of a walkable town center. Thematic words guiding the developers include ”humble, inviting, approachable, convenient and authentic.“