So pleased to see that SIFF is getting closer to be fully funded on their capital campaign!  Puget Sound Business Journal staff writer Bethany Overland covered Seattle International Film Festival’s move to the Seattle Center on Friday, July 29. Read excerpts from the article below:

Photo: Dan Schlatter From left, SIFF Artistic Director Carl Spence, Managing Director Deborah Person and advisory board member Barbara Malone enjoy the new SIFF space at Seattle Center. The seats are from the old Cinerama Theater.

The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is close to finishing a $2.8 million capital campaign, and has finally moved into its new residence on the grounds of the Seattle Center — the first time in its 37 years that it has called a location its permanent home.

With neighbors such as the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Seattle Repertory Theatre, and McCaw Hall (home to the Seattle Opera), the film-focused nonprofit says it has landed in exactly the right spot: the hub of Seattle’s “cultural arts.”

The 12,000 square-foot Alki Room (located at the corner of Republican Street and Warren Avenue North) will house SIFF offices, classrooms and a 100-seat viewing room with state-of-the-art technology. The space will also be the new home of Seattle’s TheFilmSchool, another nonprofit, where many aspiring screenwriters and directors attend programs and lectures with the likes of actor Tom Skerritt and screenwriter Stewart Stern.

SIFF will host grand opening events in late October.

Leasing space to Amazon.com makes buildings attractive to investors.

By Eric Pryne
Seattle Times Business Reporter

Seattle developer Schnitzer West has put its 1918 Eighth office tower up for sale, three months after it leased most of the 36-story building to Amazon.com.

The building wouldn’t be on the market now but for the fast-growing online retailer, said Dan Ivanoff, Schnitzer’s founder and managing member. “That was a game-changer,” he said.

Also included in Schnitzer’s offering: 818 Stewart, a 14-story building on the same Denny Triangle block.

Together, the two buildings contain about 900,000 square feet of office space that will be 94 percent leased when two pending deals are signed, Ivanoff said.

The buildings were put on the market last week, he said. He anticipates they will be sold by early fall.

Schnitzer doesn’t have an asking price, Ivanoff said. But Bill Pollard, managing partner at Talon Private Capital in Kirkland, said he expects the offers will be “eye-popping… there’s such a demand right now for that type of quality with low risk.”

Click here to read more on this exciting development.

Schnitzer West LLC today announced that Amazon.com has signed a lease to occupy approximately 460,000 square feet of office space at 1918 Eighth Avenue project. Delivered in 2009 at 668,000 square feet, the Class A high rise is one of the largest new buildings in downtown Seattle. The Amazon lease brings the office tower to 94 percent occupancy. Schnitzer West also developed the first phase of Amazon’s South Lake Union headquarters, known as Phase 1A and 1B, under a joint venture with Vulcan.

“We are extremely pleased to have Amazon.com as a tenant at 1918 Eighth Avenue,” said Dan Ivanoff, founder and managing investment partner for Schnitzer West LLC.

Designed by Seattle-based architectural firm NBBJ, the 36-story tower is Certified LEED Gold Core & Shell and offers several tenant focused amenities that set it apart from its competitors in the area, including a highly functional Great Room that provides a series of adaptable-use, comfortably designed, network- and media-supported spaces for client meetings, presentations, employee recruiting, training or other firm events. In addition, there’s a building concierge to maximize tenants’ productivity; a fitness center; six levels of underground parking which includes bike lockers and showers; and restaurant and retail offerings. Located in the Denny Triangle neighborhood, the building is optimally positioned between the retail core and the South Lake Union neighborhood and is within walking distance of all of the major public transportation lines, including local and regional bus service, light rail and the South Lake Union street car. More than 1,600 hotel rooms and convention facilities are within a three-block radius.

Minimum bids between $175,000 and $295,000 represent up to a 54 percent reduction in prices

Gallery Condominium, LLC has saved the best inventory for last of its new Belltown condominium homes.   Accelerated Marketing Partners (AMP) will launch the final close-out of the new home inventory. The auction will be held on March 5, 2011 at the Grand Hyatt in downtown Seattle, providing a rare opportunity for prospective homebuyers to purchase a new condominium at steeply discounted prices. Gallery is currently more than 80 percent occupied, due in large part to the highly successful auction AMP conducted in September of 2009.

Situated at 2911 Second Avenue, Gallery offers outstanding views of Elliott Bay, the Space Needle and Mount Rainier.   Several homes slated for auction at this one-day event are the open, one bedroom/one bath plans with a variety of square footage layouts.  These homes are ideal for the professional, empty nester, and as well as the perfect pied a terre for very special “city” living.  The innovative designs offer maximum use of space, ranging in size from approximately 571 to 672 square feet. Buyers can choose from a number of configurations to define living areas and bedroom areas.   Included in this sale is also a new one bedroom/one bath plus den at approximately 883 square feet with exceptional views of Elliott Bay.

Prior to the auction, prospective buyers will have an opportunity to view all available auction units as well as fully furnished models and examples of the partitioned, open floor plans.  The Auction Information Center and models will be open daily from 10 am to 5 pm with extended hours on Thursdays until 7 pm.  Additional information is available at www.AuctionTheGallery.com or through Gallery’s auction concierge services at 1-888-982-8988.

“This exciting auction opportunity will be the last chance to allow homebuyers to determine value within this successful new residential Seattle condominium development.  Home buyers can feel comfortable and confident they are participating in a transparent bidding process,” said Ken Stevens, west coast CEO of Accelerated Marketing Partners, a national, full-service real estate firm that conducted the previous launch auction events at Gallery and its sister property, Brix.

Ideally located at the north end of Belltown, Gallery is perfectly situated to capture Space Needle views to the east and Elliott Bay panoramas to the west.  Gallery features abundant amenities within its concrete and steel frame construction, customized floor plans and upscale finishes.  Features of these homes include European-styled kitchens with custom cabinetry, slab granite or microcrystal countertops and premium stainless steel appliances; floor to ceiling windows; hardwood floors; and generous balconies.

Amenities include a full-service concierge staff, a two-story lobby, Owners Lounge, an exclusive Supper Club and Sky Lounge.  Whether entertaining a large crowd or hosting an intimate dinner for eight, Gallery is designed to accommodate.