First look at Vulcan's planned tower beside Denny Park

A potential design for Vulcan's proposed development at the northwest corner of Westlake Avenue North and Denny Way is shown in this early design guidance image. A potential design for Vulcan's proposed development at the northwest corner of Westlake Avenue North and Denny Way is shown in this early design guidance image. Photo: Vulcan, ZGF Architects, Ankrom Moisan Architects Photo: Vulcan, ZGF Architects, Ankrom Moisan Architects Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close First look at Vulcan's planned tower beside Denny Park 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

Developer Vulcan has put out its first ideas for a big new project on the block just east of Denny Park.

The block runs from Westlake Avenue North to Ninth Avenue North, between Denny Way and John Street, with an alley running north-south down the middle. Vulcan has proposed all-commercial and mixed-use versions of its plan, detailed in a packet (big pdf) prepared in advance of the first design-review meeting, scheduled for July 2.

The mixed-use version would have about 420,000 square feet of offices in a 240-foot-tall building, 460,000 square feet of homes in a 400-foot-tall tower, 30,000 square feet of street-level retail space along Westlake and Denny, and approximately 800 underground parking spaces.

The all-commercial option would have about 570,000 square feet of offices in two buildings, plus 30,000 square feet of retail along Westlake and Denny, and approximately 600 parking spaces underground. Vulcan's preferred all-commercial scenario would allow one of the office buildings to be taller by taking allowed space away from the other.

Under both versions, Vulcan would prefer to devote the alley to pedestrian use, which would require a vacation from the city.

Vulcan put more of its attention in the design-review packet to the mixed-use version of the development. The plan, as presented, would require several deviations from design rules, which is standard for this type of project. Specifically, Vulcan wants to cover more roof area than standard limits in the residential tower, with uses closer to the roof line than rules allow in the residential and office buildings; have longer stretches of uniform facade than rules generally require; and set buildings back from Westlake more than allowed at street level.

Vulcan, Paul Allen's real estate company, is behind the rapid development of South Lake Union in recent years.

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