Our resident interior designer, KH, recently toured Carbon 56. Here are her thoughts:
After seeing the marketing boards along Denny for the past few weeks, I decided to check out Carbon 56, (formerly known as Aristo Apartments). It is a conversion project located a block from Whole Foods at 2015 Terry Ave in the Denny Triangle. The project is definitely aiming at the young professional urban dweller with a clean modern look and prices in the low $300,000s through high $500,000s.
The building was originally constructed in 2003, with 56 open loft style plans in a combination of five floor plans. The condos range in size from 660 to almost 1,300 sq ft. with 9’ to 13’ ceiling heights. The floor to ceiling windows and open layouts make even the smaller 650 SF “olive” unit that I toured feel spacious (especially with the large terrace which is the entire width of the unit). The larger floor plans have elevated sleeping spaces.
Since they opened to the public four weeks ago, 9 of the 56 units have been sold. The price per square foot seems reasonable for the smaller units that I was looking for. $475/sf for a 2nd floor east-facing up to $607/sf for a west-facing unit on the 4th floor.
Building features:
- large terrace on west side of 2nd floor (will be divided per units on that side)
- fitness center
- private entrances on lower east units
- decks with some city views (west)
- underground parking
- air conditioning
- floors 1 & 2 are steel/concrete construction
- floors 3 & 4 are wood construction
- exposed cross-bracing in some units
- storage available
Two color options are available with the following finishes:
- entry hall/dining/living: maple hardwood floor, wood base/case, and roller blinds in living area with floor to ceiling windows.
- kitchen: flat panel maple cabinetry w/ brushed hardware, solid surface countertop, undermount sink, metal finish tile backsplash, stainless appliances, expoded venting from the micro/hood, and marmoleum sheet flooring. I really wish they would have upgraded to at least porcelain tile for the flooring next to the wood.
- baths: flat panel maple cabinetry w/ brushed hardware, solid surface countertop, full-tiled wall behind mirror (as backsplash), porcelain tile floor, deep tub with fiberglass or acrylic shower/ tub surround, and american standard plumbing fixtures. they don’t have a picture online, but I think they did a nice job with the full-tiled backsplash wall. However, a tile surround in the tub/shower would have been nice to upgrade to. (I guess you have to cut somewhere for lower-priced condos – it would be an easy upgrade).
I think they did a nice job making the units feel spacious by integrating the open shelving between the kitchen and sleeping space. The open floor plan also allow for flexibility or upgrades once you move in. Overall I think Carbon56 is a great conversion if you’re not looking for too many extras and a close walk to downtown and Whole Foods.
Popularity: 10% [?]
3 responses so far ↓
1 Aidan Hadley // Apr 13, 2007 at 7:18 am
I lived in Carbon 56 when it was the Aristo. The “loft-style” design seemed spacious and open but there were lots of problems with the place. The construction is very light so the walls, celings and floors and paper-thin and noise is a constant problem. The alley serves garbage and recycling trucks for three properties so and there is nothing out there to absorb noise. So that is a constant intrusion as well. There is no cross ventilation in the building, no air conditioning, and entire walls of glass that are south-facing. We often had cooking smells from neighboring apartments. In the summer those greenhouse-effect units (half the building) bake like ovens. Rental tenants were bailing out in summer like rats from a sinking ship. There were constant problems with the heating system that never seemed to be permanently remedied. My heat rarely worked so my girlfriend and I froze in the winter. You’re basically buying one big room there. This means there is little privacy if you decide to have overnight guests. It also means that there is a loud, humming refrigerator in the same room where you sleep. The units can be very dark at the end farthest away from the windows. They apparently did some cosmetic upgrades during the conversaion, but the floors are still thin, cheap IKEA flooring. Security is still an issue in that emerging neighborhood as well. There are better values in the condo market right now that this place. It only LOOKS different. Don’t buy into the hype. I predict a lot of tunraround.
2 kh // Apr 13, 2007 at 8:32 am
aidan, thanks for the upclose view! this is definitely the kind of feedback we all need to hear on conversions, as having previously lived in the building gives a whole new perspective. this is almost a drawback for new construction since you don’t know what you’re going to get until they give you the keys…
i think every building in seattle without AC gets that greenhouse-effect for a month at least every summer… ugh!
3 Kris Mansuy // Jun 4, 2007 at 3:22 pm
I also lived at Carbon 56 when it was still the Aristo and I have to admit that I laughed at some of the description/s. Air Conditioning?? Please….those little portable AC units cool only the sweating soul who stands right in front of it. We lived in a street level unit and were lucky in that we did not get the full effects of the sun but even so summer was like living in an oven especially with the lack of windows that opened little more than a few inches to allow whatever breeze there might be in.
Aidan is right also about the noise level. Although we rarely heard the neighbors above every sound from next door traveled through the walls as though the wall did not exist at all! And forget privacy…every sound escapes through the thin aluminum door so that anyone walking by in the hallway becomes part of your private moment and you dont’ even realize it until you inadvertantly invade someone else’s private moment.
Correct also was the heating issue. Fortunately we rarely used the heat but once it was turned on we couldn’t get it to turn off..ever!
Also in and around the building located across the street (Terry) there is a serious rat problem and it wasnt’ unusual to sit outside on a warm summer night and watch the rat races across the street.
I did see the units after the upgrades and they did look better…the stainless steel appliances added a nice touch that wasn’t there with the typical white appliances and having Whole Foods within walking distance was a luxury.
We initially considered purchasing but after learning of the price decided against it. I suppose they are an acceptable size for one but for two it’s much too cramped.
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