66 Belltown units set for first design review

The owners of a property at 2218 First Ave. will show their plans next month for an eight-story, 66-unit building with restaurant space in Belltown.

Enterprise 2218 LLC acquired the 6,570-square-foot midblock property in 2015 for $1.75 million. Enterprise is associated with investors Erich Guenther, Collin Madden and Dan Ederer.

The site is between Bell and Blanchard streets, and presently home to the Tia Lou nightclub. The 1920 warehouse building will be demolished.

The preferred plan by Heliotrope Architects shows the building will have a dumbbell shape, with a light well in the middle. There will be a basement bike room. No parking is required or provided.

A landscaped roof deck will face west, and there will be a smaller setback deck below on the eighth floor.

The unit mix appears to be studios and open one-bedrooms. No average size is given.

No mention is made of HALA or MFTE incentives, implying that the project will be entirely market rate.

Large operable windows are shown, similar to those on older buildings in Belltown. The architects write, “Our proposal follows the tradition of these ‘fabric’ buildings, but with contemporary expression, a keen eye for proportion and shadow, and elegant detailing. Rather than chasing the elusive cutting edge, the proposed building is designed to be a timeless anchor on the block.”

The ground-floor retail space will be designed with a restaurant in mind, with a facade that can open to the sidewalk. A planted canopy over the sidewalk would allow outdoor seating.

Total project size is about 46,000 square feet. Site Workshop is the landscape architect.

The first early design guidance meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 18 at City Hall, 600 Fifth Ave. Room L2-80.