CITY SCENE
ALL COOPED UP
Speaking of Seattle housing , the renters market across the area is booming . The demand is forcing apartment buildings to be built rapidly . With increased competition to get each unit leased , developers are focusing on offering some crazy amenities to justify rent charges . It ’ s easy to find a place based off what you desire most . In terms of luxury , Harbor Steps in Belltown features a rock climbing wall , saunas , whirlpools , and full-sized lap pool . Carriages at Fairwood Downs in Renton provides a state-of-the-art fitness center that includes tanning and an outdoor pool . Dimensions , also in Belltown , books live music entertainment in their lobby , and their rooftop view may be the best in the city . Walton + Lofts has a grand library and bike workshop . Astro Apartments in lower Queen Anne is geared toward pet lovers by including a rooftop dog park for your pup to do its business in luxury , and Eleanor Apartments in Ravenna features its own dog salon . Premiere on Pine downtown also has a dog lounge but adheres to the business side by offering a business lounge and conference space . Viktoria attracts the socialites with its own wine bar . If you prefer an environmental yet modern home , every apartment in 47 + 7 in U-District is made of recycled materials but also includes heated flooring and modern technology like smartphone-controlled lighting . But out of all them , perhaps the most unique is the soon-to-be-open Bowman Apartments in Fremont where your rent includes free eggs delivered right from the rooftop ’ s chicken coop . Yes , you read that right . Bowman is offering farm-to-table dwellers freshly dropped eggs from its own live chickens . Eggs only , people ; the chickens are not for dinner .
photo Bowman Stoneway photo Washington State Department of Transportation
BERTHA ' S BACK
It ’ s 2017 . By this time , the viaduct should have been finished two years ago and the new Seattle waterfront finishing by this summer . Obviously , the schedule is a little off track because of that big inconstant tunnel-digging machine , Bertha . Her problems have not only cost the city millions of dollars over budget but pushed back the remodel of Seattle ’ s waterfront by years — four years per the latest projection . It has now been estimated she won ’ t retire until 2019 and the waterfront until 2023 . The bright side is that it will be done in our lifetime ... hopefully . After her last 10-day break for maintenance , she ’ s back drilling under Lenora to Bell Street that ’ s marked as zone 8 ; only about 2,400 miles to go or about 4 miles a day . In December , she averaged about 22 miles , and this month so far it ’ s about 6 . Pending no more breakdowns ( fingers crossed ), it looks like we may be right on schedule . anniversary issue 13