DATE: TO: FROM: RE:
December 14, 2015 Seattle Design Review Board Risa Morgan Lewellyn, Residential Owner - Madison Tower Project #3021574 (Former Federal Reserve Bank)
I am concerned about the proposed development at 1015 Second Avenue, the site of the former Federal Reserve Bank. Some of my concern stems from the incomplete and therefore difficult to understand proposal materials. The visuals included do not acknowledge buildings that are already in the advanced planning and/or early building stages. It is disingenuous at best to not include such known structures in the discussion of the Second Avenue corridor. As a frequent pedestrian in the neighborhood, the current diversity of building heights and streetscape facades create a somewhat welcoming and more interesting environment. The massing of the building proposed does not follow Design Review guidelines for new structures to be in line with current and historic structures in the area. The size and scope of the building proposed works against the current open space at Madison and Second. This open space has clearly been supported by all other building at that intersection and should continue to be an important factor in any new development. The designation of the former Federal Reserve Bank as an historic structure is also a key component to the building site. It is premature to be proposing building on top of the former FRB while the evaluation of the building’s landmark status has not been finalized. This experiment to top off an existing building does nothing to add to the visual interest of the downtown landscape. It simply adds another monolithic edifice to an area that is already replete with such buildings. Service access to the building is not detailed in the proposal. Poor access to off-street delivery and service can mean significant back-ups on main arterials. The alley to the west of the proposed building is too small to handle the needs of the current traffic servicing the Hotel 1000, the Madison Towers and the remodeling work on The Standard. Where will service vehicles park for loading and unloading? What is the access for trash and recycling? A building of the size proposed needs a working and appropriately sized loading bay for such deliveries. The proposal makes no acknowledgement of the “Move Seattle” plans for buses and trolleys along First and Second as well as Madison and Spring. The designation of Madison and Spring as major points of entry and egress for ferry traffic is also not noted in the proposal. I am also concerned about the loss of light and privacy to current downtown residents this new tower proposes. Many downtown residential buildings have a significant portion of their units facing downtown view space. All such units have a right to privacy and to light. The Seattle 2035 master plan calls for a dense, diverse and livable neighborhood as part of the downtown core. Well-planned and well-designed density is key to making such a plan work. The proposed tower is a thought-less and poorly designed edifice that does not support the goals of Seattle 2035 or the spirit of sustainable and diverse density. There is no value in building a residential space that looks across 14-feet into someone else’s residence. The notion that new development can completely wipe out access to light and air and take away privacy sounds a warning against the investment of future homeowners in the downtown area. All of which is the opposite of what is desired to support future growth in the downtown core as detailed in Seattle 2035 planning.