Finding a condo home that is both brand new and affordable in Seattle may sound impossible until you turn to KODA, a special kind of place in the cultural heart of the city.
KODA is setting a new standard while honoring local traditions and aesthetics. Standing 17 stories tall, it is the first major residential building for Japantown, in the northwest of the Chinatown International District (ID) – yet it was built with the sensibility of its historic area. With 201 units, the building is located at 450 South Main Street.
KODA is at the crossroads to culture, food and fun. Nowhere but the ID can you find a great mix of cuisine and specialty markets for residents to enjoy a wide variety of culinary creations.
The many cultural threads of the ID weave a tapestry of modern living with a nod to the customs and traditions of the community. The neighborhood celebrates its history and heritage with museums, the historic Panama Hotel and Tea House, and parks, as well as annual events such as street parties and parades (except during the pandemic). KODA is also a sports fan’s paradise, located near the stadiums and sports bars.
The building’s amenities blend that culture, food and fun into a fresh and thoughtful approach to health, wellness and entertainment.
Residents can stay in shape at the fitness room and yoga studio or enjoy the calmness of the Zen garden and private library. Entertainment options include two media rooms, billiards, social lounge and private dining area with exhibition kitchen.
What’s truly special are the views from the 17th floor, outdoor rooftop or seventh-floor terrace. Looking West, restrictions on new construction limit building heights to 85 feet (about eight stories) and promise stunning sunsets for KODA residents in years to come.
In addition to offering breathtaking vistas, the rooftop acts as a virtual park and social hub with lounge space, firepits and grilling stations.
KODA also features 24/7 concierge services, co-working and meeting-room spaces, guests suites and designated areas for dogs.
The air-conditioned homes are open and bright. Walls of windows surround a living space that feature light or dark color palettes, quartz countertops, European-style cabinets, top-of-the line Blomberg and Fulgor appliances, closet systems, Italian inspired stone-look porcelain bath tile, hardwood floors and optional kitchen island.
There are traditional units with bedrooms that include a window and “urban” homes with interior bedrooms. Keeping up with the times, units come with the latest in home tech: smart thermostats, optional electric window shades, light management and audio-visual systems, and in-home security.
KODA is on the doorstep to all transportation options. King Street Station (with Amtrak and Sounder service) and the expanded International District/Chinatown light rail station – the busiest transit hub in the city – are a few short blocks away. Hop on Link light rail to be on the University of Washington campus or at Sea-Tac Airport in less than 30 minutes. Once rail work is complete in 2023, residents can quickly zip on Link across Lake Washington to Bellevue and beyond.
The area has an unbeatable 100 Transit Score and 99 Walk Score. Plus, there is storage in the building for bikes when residents are ready to visit by ferry to Bainbridge Island. Storage bins are extra and available on a limited basis.
KODA offers a car-share program, and electric-vehicle parking is available in the 72-stall underground garage. Parking spaces run $75,000 for eligible owners ($85,000 for EV spaces). Additional long-term parking is available for a fee on adjacent lots.
Home prices start in the mid-$400,000s for 1-bedroom units and from the high $600,000s for two bedrooms. More than half of the building is pre-sold, and the intensity of buyer interest has risen markedly since the start of the year. The project, delayed by the pandemic, is targeting completion in late May.
This marks the first project for Da Li Development USA, but it is hardly the first for its global parent. Taiwan-based Da Li has developed more than 100 condominium projects with some 50,000 units. It has since announced plans for a 12-story office tower in the shadows of the Space Needle on Fifth Avenue North and, tentatively, a 28-story retail/apartment village across the street from KODA.
Da Li and KMD Architects diligently worked with the community to ensure KODA would assimilate with Japantown and the ID. The design of the building was endorsed by the International Special Review District that aims to preserve the Asian-American character of the neighborhood.
Now it’s time for interested buyers to give KODA their endorsement. Contact me to learn more and schedule a visit – virtually or in person.