The neighborhood was changing
From working waterfront to downtown living
Site 17 was planned when Belltown was drawing a wave of people who wanted to live near the office core without living in it. Harbor Properties was investing in central Seattle rentals as the district's streets and waterfront connections evolved. The Western Avenue site fit that ambition: an active urban block near Pike Place Market, but also a few steps from the steeper streets that descend toward Elliott Bay. Its story is about a neighborhood becoming residential through successive smaller projects rather than one instantaneous skyline transformation.
How the buildings fit together
Two heights on opposite sides of Wall Street
Long-running building records identify two parts at 2440 and 2504 Western Avenue and describe heights of approximately seven and eight stories. That paired condition produces different street approaches and outlooks instead of the uniform circulation of one condominium tower. A buyer should determine which address, entry, elevator and common spaces serve the exact home. More than the abstract building name, the relationship to Wall Street, Western Avenue and nearby structures affects light and privacy.
The design and builder record
GGLO and the second phase of Site 17
A contemporary 1999 construction report explicitly credited GGLO with designing Site 17 North and identified Rafn Construction and McCarthy on that phase. CoStar's current building file also lists GGLO as architect for the 2440 Western Avenue property. Those references support the project's design lineage, though they do not by themselves establish identical construction contracts for both buildings. The contemporary phase breakdown is important: it is easy for later real estate summaries to compress the whole project into one year and one team.
When apartments became condos
The 2005 conversion changed the questions
Seattle Condos and Lofts dates the original construction to 1998 and the condominium conversion to 2005. Converting established apartments into individually owned homes changed the legal and practical framework without rebuilding the property from scratch. Buyers should ask about the condominium declaration, reserve planning from the conversion, historical common-element maintenance and whether specific units were altered after initial construction. Nothing about a conversion automatically means a property is less sound, but the timing matters when reconstructing a building's stewardship history.
A shared place to meet
The rooftop was part of the original urban offer
Historical building profiles identify a roof deck, exercise room, on-site management and a community room among Site 17's shared spaces. Those amenities make sense for a smaller mid-rise community: a place to gather and find outdoor air without every residence needing its own expansive deck. Confirm the exact location and accessibility of each shared area, especially in a two-building configuration. Historical profiles describe the amenity concept rather than providing current operating hours, reservations, or evidence of work completed in recent years.
Choosing a particular residence
A loft-oriented unit and a conventional flat are not the same
The community contains a mix of floor plans, including some marketed as loft-like. That terminology does not establish a legal live-work designation or a uniform ceiling height. Individual homes may respond differently to afternoon sun, street noise and neighboring buildings. Compare like-for-like sales within the correct building, check the floor plans against actual measurements and verify assigned parking and storage. Site 17's best story is its layered urban history, but a sound purchase depends on the precise unit and current association records.
