6960 California Ave SW
Developer: Gamel/Mastro
Architect: in hiding
On the record, these luxurious flagstone stairs lead to a fine (somber) example of West Seattle’s “luxury condos” with units around $239,000. OMG!?
Send us photos of cheapshit condos from your neighborhood.
and...
October 6th, 2009 at 9:06 am
I’d like to see the sequel to District 9 filmed here!
October 9th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I’m thinking “Waste Water Condominiums”
They say “Them That Can, Do. Them That Can’t, Teach”. Perhaps the in-hiding architect is now teaching Health at some highschool near you.
October 10th, 2009 at 7:43 am
It looks like they tore down the origional matching flagstone buildings and put up Waste Water in it’s place,saving money by leaving the old stairs.Hello,which of these things don’t go together??
If the architect is teaching health,thank goodness. He sure shouldn’t be teaching architecture.
October 10th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I recently found this site and while I like its ideas, the West Coast of the United States has never been a bastion of memorable architecture.
However, it has been a place where architecture did stand for permanence, and pride in one’s work and ethics.
The condos here do show how we have entered the worst era of architectural design in the United States. With all the resources and ideas available, this is the best that developers have found themselves able to do with their time and resources.
The issue with architecture that makes it separate from other business activity is that…
“…architecture approaches nearer than any other art to being irrevocable, because it is so difficult to get rid of.” – G. K. Chesterton
We are all married to these structures in a way and we are influenced by the cheapness and selfish motives of these investors, developers and architects.
While I’m not expecting radical change, I’d like to see architecture move away from the cheapest, quickest on-budget building to an approach that considered lasting design aesthetic and a sense of responsibility to the community in which these buildings will reside for decades to come.
Best,
Robert Davis
Seattle
October 10th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
This place looks tricky. Like the flagstone is doing a sort of bait and switch. Yeah, walk up these stone stairs to a world of . . . surprise, vinyl siding! Hah. Seriously though, what is up with all the uglies. I’d rather have space in Seattle occupied by structures that don’t cause a gag reflex.
October 10th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
The top doesn’t even come close to matching the bottom. It’s like pairing a fashionable Italian skirt with a tacky made-in-China polyester blouse from Wal*Mart.
October 11th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I think JackN is onto something: I wonder if the drapes match the carpet inside…
Oh, and Jack- Call me. You left your shirt in my closet…
October 12th, 2009 at 9:55 am
It’s a an older apartment house with a face-lift and new appliances.
They tried to sell as condos, but the market collapsed, and they are now in some kind of financial limbo with empties, sold units and rented ones as well.
Just another example of Seattle as Boomtown.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Beige IS the only sanctioned color for new construction in W. Seattle.
June 28th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
Wow. What a bunch of haters.
June 30th, 2010 at 11:29 am
It’s good to be wowed. Basic business principal. Don’t be a philistine…let’s get on with improving the way the city looks. It’s a labor of love (not hate).
July 1st, 2010 at 8:53 am
Seriously, what haters!
We got our condo there for $125k, not $240k.. it’s actually really nice, and to the Robert Davis who claims they’re an example of “the worst era of archtectural design..” blah blah — they were designed & built in the 80s — refurbished in the last few years. So, not exactly an example of any era we have entered. They’re from a different era. They did a fine job of refurbishing it as far as I can tell. Our independent inspector gave the building high marks, found nothing wrong.
The mortgage payments are less than renting a room in a house, and the market’s so low right now it’s definitely a good investment. I think we did alright buying there.
December 8th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
I like the minivan parked out front. Does that come with a purchase?