The Pro’s and Con’s To Every Downtown Seattle Condo

First Light

1. Pro: At 48 stories high, you are towering over every other residential building. Most high rises cap out at 40 stories. While there is never a guarantee you will keep your view, it is highly unlikely any other building nearby will build higher than the standard 40 stories.
2. Con: A 45-story high rise has been issued permits at 2033 4th Ave. This will affect views on homes facing North East. The top floor amenity spaces should continue to have unobstructed views.
3. Pro: Next level amenities: This is the only building currently (and probably ever!) to have a rooftop pool & hot tubs. Other amenities feature a top floor wrap around gym, large pet relief area, rooftop garden/atrium.
4. Con: First Light will pack in an impressive 459 homes. Many buildings of this size typically range from 250-350 homes. It’ll be interesting to see if with a higher capacity the amenity spaces are too full. It would be a shame to have the most beautiful pool in the city, only for it to always be too full to grab a seat.
5. Pro: Premium appliances & fixtures. Due to rising build costs, the quality of products being used has gone significantly down over the years. It’s not uncommon to see newer buildings use a cheap vinyl tile with a faux marble look, rather than the real thing. It always makes my heart sink a little. But not with First Light! They did not skimp on quality with Miele appliances, Terrazzo tiles showers/tubs, white oak engineered hard floors, and triple pane windows. Yes, TRIPLE pane windows!
6. Con: Location. First light is situated on 3rd Ave Downtown, which is widely known to be the worst street in all of Seattle.
7. Pro: Location! Of all the blocks on 3rd Ave, this is actually one of the best. This street corner is a hot spot for restaurants with Serious Pie, Dahlia Bakery, Nebs, and Lola (all Tom Douglas owned, and amazing!). You also have Assaggio Restaurant across the street, and retail space for a coffee shop and restaurant within the building. I’m excited to see how First Light takes shape and helps create an even more lively downtown street. Most of the bad rap 3rd Ave gets is actually a few blocks down.

First Light is sure to be an incredible building, truly next level compared to the rest, but that comes at a price. Homes range from $1,000-$1,500+. Similar newer buildings around town are closing closer to $500-$800 per square foot. If you want the BEST of the BEST in home quality and amenities, and don’t mind a smaller home, First Light may be a great fit for you This is Westbank’s for Condo project in Seattle, but will it also be the last?

Insignia Towers

The Emerald

The Emerald is located on 2nd & Stewart, one block from the famed Pike Place Market

1. Pro: If you have dreams of living the quintessential Seattle life of grocery shopping at Pike Place Market for your daily necessities, this is the perfect location for you.
2. Con: This is smack dab in the middle of the more “touristy” section of downtown. If you don’t wish to be among tourists in the high season summer travel months, you may not love this location.
3. Pro: The best, most unobstructed water views of downtown that will never go away. The Emerald looks over 1st Ave, a historic district that cannot be built higher. With virtually every other building, there are many risks to your view being blocked in the future. The string of condos located on 2nd have locked in west facing water views that will never be obstructed. South facing homes also enjoy incredible city and partial water views.
4. Con: The emerald features ground floor retail space that has yet to be leased out since opening in 2020.
5. Pro: Modern, yet warm finishes. Susan Marinello did a wonderful job designing the interiors through out this building. The furnishings in the amenity spaces feel classy and upscale, yet truly comfortable to sit down with friends in, as if it’s your own living room. Every home features the same palette of real walnut cabinetry, (a nice upgrade from the typical veneer you see in apartments) white oak floors, and the choice between white quartz or grey quartz. Appliances are hidden behind cabinet panels and the backsplash is the matching quartz countertops giving a clean and simple look. I believe this design will wear really well over time, and not look dated as soon as others.
6. Con: Of the 262 homes available, only about 60 come with parking spots. 2+ bedroom homes include 1 parking spot. 1 bedroom and studios either have to be carless, or fend for nearby monthly parking. While there are plenty of nearby parking options, it’s not ideal to have to walk across the street on a rainy Seattle day to get in your car.
7. Pro: Many of the floor plans feature dens that make great home office spaces. Very few homes have the ultra depressing, dreaded rectangle-style box style.
8. Con: The kitchen, although beautiful, can feel small, as if it were designed for someone that prefers to go out to eat more than cook at home. Kitchens don’t come with an island, although some units have opted to upgrade to a rollable island.