THE WHITTAKER: Celebration marks completion of second tower

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

That’s the view from the roof of the north tower at The Whittaker (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW; WSB sponsor), where a grand-opening celebration this afternoon marked the completion of both towers. Here’s what’s on the roof:

Another view looks down to the common area:

This time of year, the fire pit will get some use:

Someone who’s no stranger to the outdoors, mountaineering legend Jim Whittaker – the complex’s namesake – was at the party:

Inside the building, here’s a look at the kitchen of a studio unit:

Sun streamed into this 1-bedroom:

The Whittaker has 2-bedroom units as well, and property managers say they’ve already leased 70 percent of the complex’s almost 400 units. As for the commercial space, no news yet about the area originally intended for Whole Foods. Except for MOD Pizza (next June), the ground-floor business tenants are expected to be open within the next month or so. One more thing: the mural on the west side that’s a digital recreation of the one that used to be on the Huling Brothers building that sat along Fauntleroy where The Whittaker’s south tower is now:

You might have noticed some other features along Fauntleroy – the building was set back to make room for a bicycle lane, and there’s art all around, including a water feature by Fauntleroy/Alaska, where the developer-funded crosswalk was recently completed. Today’s celebration is almost ten months after last year’s ribboncutting party marked the south tower’s opening.

27 Replies to "THE WHITTAKER: Celebration marks completion of second tower"

  • Ajwren September 22, 2017 (12:29 am)

    I hope Jim gets a royalty on every unit leased. He and Mountain Madness are WS treasure. 

  • JeffK September 22, 2017 (7:18 am)

    I’m sure I’m not the only one that was curious:

    1 bedrooms / 1 bath, 527 sf for $1648/mo. to 966 sf for $2726/mo.

    2 bed/1bath 1026 sf for $2911/mo. to 2bed/2bath 1258 sf for  $3416/mo.

    • WSB September 22, 2017 (7:22 am)

      That’s all on the website, in the specific section linked in the story where we refer to the apartments.

    • Also John September 22, 2017 (8:03 am)

      OMG…….is this part of the affordable housing?  :-)  All of those prices are higher than what my mortgage used to be.

       I’m going to have to up the price of my rental house.  No wonder people want it so badly. 

      • CAM September 22, 2017 (8:22 am)

        I’m pretty sure that’s market rate. It’s a little lower than typical but that is most likely due to the building being brand new and wanting to fill fast and also partially location. That intersection is not at all soothing to listen to all day. 

        • Swede. September 22, 2017 (10:42 am)

          To say the least! 

          Super noisy, especially now with the new firehouse since they get 3-4 calls (at least) every day. 

          • WSB September 22, 2017 (10:46 am)

            The temporary fire station was right across the street, so the SFD move back to SW Alaska is likely a slight improvement.

    • WSEA September 22, 2017 (8:09 am)

      Those are some hefty prices.  The bigger concern for most people I know is the number of units (441 units) which will soon be filled.  Thats a lot more cars in west seattle and on the bridge.  I like living in  density but it needs mass transit to support it.   On a positive  note, my weight has decreased due to the number of bike trips I now take.  

      • Also John September 22, 2017 (11:17 am)

        WSEA,

         Good for you.  I try to ride everyday year round.  I hurt my knee over the weekend and took the bus Tuesday.  I look at all the bus riders and wonder ‘why aren’t you biking???’  Especially the younger ones.   It takes an extra 10 minutes to reach downtown….

        • Gene September 22, 2017 (12:53 pm)

          Gee– young or old- you have absolutely no idea why any of your fellow  bus riders were on the bus as opposed to biking.  Could be any number of reasons-health related( like you that day) — destination related – time related-including some folks who just plain don’t like to ride a bike( could be some are flat out afraid of biking on our traffic)- just as some don’t like to drive & some don’t like to take a bus- & in my book that’s ok. 

        • D Del Rio September 22, 2017 (1:08 pm)

          I wouldn’t bike in the city for all the money in the world. If you get hit by a car, you will not win. I used to walk from South Seattle College to Arbor Heights when I was a student there, but for me, the bus is my way yo commute to work.

        • East Coast Cynic September 22, 2017 (6:45 pm)

          Short of ideal biking conditions—flat land rather than hilly, protected bike lanes (from the traffic as @Gene and @D Del Rio said), and good weather most of the year, I would not bike around here.

        • KM September 23, 2017 (8:04 am)

          I’m grateful people aren’t driving in single occupancy vehicles regardless of their alternate method. It’s something I need to do more of. After 10 years, I’m finally gaining the confidence to ride In WS–this is a city I have never felt was safe for cyclists, but improving. I’ve been a confident cyclist in other cities, however.

  • LK September 22, 2017 (7:33 am)

    Thanks for cutting to the chase JeffK.  That’s some major coin.  Astounding to see how much rents have increased the past few years.

    • Sue H September 22, 2017 (9:28 am)

      I live a block from there and pay a little less than that, but I’m not in a new construction building. My 1BR rent has been going up $100 month every year. Trust me, my salary doesn’t raise $100 a month each year. Only a matter of time before I get priced out.

      One thing worth noting that is many apartments these days (Whittaker included) require you to earn 3x the monthly rent in order to be approved. So at that lowest 1BR rate listed above, that means a single occupant must earn nearly $60,000 a year to qualify. Not an insignificant amount.

      • NotOnHolden September 22, 2017 (2:12 pm)

        Same here, it alternated between $100 and $150 per month increases each year.  Can’t afford to move and it’s getting less and less likely I can afford to stay.

  • JC September 22, 2017 (7:46 am)

    Thanks JeffK!  So much for having affordable rents in West Seattle.  

    • Swede. September 22, 2017 (10:43 am)

      That was ten years ago that was the case…

  • gh September 22, 2017 (8:16 am)

    What about parking with these units?

    • Kersti E muul September 22, 2017 (8:33 am)

      There is below ground parking

      • WSB September 22, 2017 (9:16 am)

        The Whittaker was built with approximately 50 percent more offstreet-parking spaces than units – almost 400 apartments, almost 600 parking spaces. Don’t know how many are set aside for retail, which as noted above will start opening soon. – TR

    • Swede. September 22, 2017 (10:40 am)

      Wonder how much extra they cost? I live close by and here they want $105/month for parking. And that’s why there is no street parking anymore…

      • Also John September 22, 2017 (11:23 am)

        I know the apartments west of Safeway want $100/month for parking underground.

  • Duanob September 22, 2017 (11:54 am)

    Perfect timing. I just put my house on the market today. I don’t really want to stick around when all these mondo biuldings fill up and we don’t have a viable transportation option to get in and out of West seattle. I call this building “The Last Straw”!

    • WSB September 22, 2017 (11:56 am)

      Sorry to see you go if you are leaving the peninsula entirely, but sincerest wishes of good luck with your sale. A house across the street from us was put on the market earlier this month and the “sold” sign was added to the shingle six days later. – TR

  • old timer September 22, 2017 (3:05 pm)

    Regarding the rent; does anyone know if they include any utilities?  

    Parking?  

    Are the units equipped with air conditioning?  

    Most do not even have a little balcony to sit on.

    Guess there’s not much sitting if you want to pay those rents.

    • Diane September 22, 2017 (4:35 pm)

      nope, nothing included; apts only wealthy can afford; extra for w/s/g; extra for storage, because these overpriced apts are so damn small; extra for underground parking; extra fees/rent for pets…

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