Pine + Minor = Chic New Apartment Building on Capitol Hill

Want to live in a boutique hotel at the intersection of downtown Seattle and the entrance to the Pike Pine corridor? If so, check out the new Pine + Minor apartment project. I’ve been meaning to tour the seven-story building at the corner of Pine St. and Minor Ave. (hence the name) and was glad I did over the weekend.

I liked the building the minute I stepped into the lobby…

Mail room at Pine + Minor

Front lobby at Pine + Minor

The design in the lobby and the community lounge is sharp and stylish but not over the top, similar to a well-executed boutique hotel. A shout out  to Portland-based Skylab Architecture, which came up with the interior finishes, and to MHD Studio for the staging.

Pine + Minor at 1551 Minor

While the style and location (right next to the foodie paradise that is Melrose Market) are top-notch, this LEED Platinum certified project is not for everybody. For one thing, the 120 units start out at 385 square feet and max out at 655. If you want the largest apartment with one of the limited parking spaces and you have a pet or need extra storage, you will have to pay more than $2,300 a month. That’s $2,300 a month for 655 sq ft. The rest of the price points…

Studio:                                              385 – 655 sq ft  –  $1,350 to $1,650/mo

“Open” One Bedroom:                   551 – 624 sq ft   –  $1,650 to $2,050/mo

One Bedroom:                                537 – 634 sq ft  –  $1,750 to $2,000/mo

Parking is an additional $225 a month. Tack on another $25 a month if you want a storage space and $35 if you have a pet. That last fee may be worth it for a dog since a popular dog park is right next to the building.

Before you bark at those prices, the market seems to be absorbing them and at a quick rate. Gerding Edlen Management, the developer, says Pine + Minor is already 52% leased and it only started leasing in late June.

If the prices haven’t scared you off, let’s go up to the roof-top deck…

The decks offers nice views of the downtown buildings to the west and a sliver of South Lake Union to the northwest. There are a grilling station and a sitting area.

Where you stand on the roof affects how much you hear of the whirl of cars from I-5, which is half a block away. It’s the same effect when I toured a few of the units. In Unit #510, you can really hear the traffic noise, even after you close the dual pane windows (with argon gas in between). But in Units #502 and #604, the noise is much less perceptible unless you’re standing near the windows.

Unit #510, an “open” one bedroom

Unit #502, a studio

Since the lot is shaped like a triangle, the floor plans differ quite a bit. But some of the features are common, including the vinyl laminate floors and in-unit washer and dryer.

Most of the kitchens fit on one wall and feature partially recycled quartz countertops, ENERGY STAR-rated appliances from Blomberg and cabinets and back splash that have a white, high-gloss finish.

Dishwasher

The photo above shows a nice touch in the kitchen where they’ve incorporated the dishwasher into the cabinetry.

Many of the bathrooms save room by having a sliding closet door, rather than a traditional door that swings in or out.

Bathroom with sliding closet door

All in all,  Pine + Minor is definitely worth checking out or living in if you value location and style over size and value. There are many more features to discuss, including the shutter-like devices that are a signature of the building’s west facade. I’ll write another post about those. In the meantime, here are more photos…