Residential, office tower could rise across from City Hall

In another move to create a residential neighborhood in downtown Seattle, Mayor Greg Nickels said this morning the block-wide hole in the ground across from Seattle City Hall will be turned into a $300 million "civic square" with a 32-story condo and office high-rise.

A few blocks away, owners of Smith Tower submitted plans Wednesday to turn the historic building into condominiums.

The new civic square would be built on site of the old Public Safety Building, bordered by Third and Fourth avenues and Cherry and James streets. The block has been empty since the building was torn down in 2005.

"This will give our city a new iconic landmark," Nickels said at a news conference.

The square will also include a retail area and more than half the block will be designed as open public gathering space. The buildings will use solar power, recycled rain water and wind turbines. A transit station for the bus tunnel will run underneath.

According to the proposal, which requires City Council approval, Seattle will receive $25 million from the Seattle developer Triad and retain ownership of the public space and the retail area.

The lead architect is Seattle-based GGLO and project design will be lead by London-based Foster + Partners, best known for working on the German Parliament building in Berlin, the new master plan for Trafalgar Square in London, the Hong Kong airport and the Millau Viaduct in France.

Council members Peter Steinbrueck, Tom Rasmussen and Jan Drago were on the committee that chose the developer.

"It's a legacy project," said Steinbrueck, who has been working on this project for ten years. "It's really something that will be a gift to future generations."

The developers hope to finish the project in late 2010.

Sharon Pian Chan: 206-464-2958 or schan@seattletimes.com