Overview
If you have walked past the Speakerlab and Definitive Audio buildings — directly southeast of Hawthorne Stereo and just across the street from the Roosevelt Manor currently under construction — you are looking at the future site of a 7-story building with 69 underground parking stalls and approximately 147 units of studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms.
The development team consists of the developer Phoenix Property Co, architect Weber Thompson, and landscape architect SiteWorkshop. Phoenix Property Co are currently working through the permitting process, including seeking demolition permits for both buildings.
Land Use Context
Currently, a closed Speakerlab store and a closed Definitive Audio store stand at the site. Via Ordinance 125791, the entire site is zoned NC2-75 (M1) — Neighborhood Commercial 2-75. This zoning designation allows for mid-sized shops and offices with housing. Seattle’s Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) program requires the developer to have some of their units as affordable housing or pay a fee. The M1 suffix means that 9% must be MHA-designated affordable units if Phoenix Property Co decides to not pay the in-lieu fee; or for this project, that would be around 13 to 14 units.
Updates and What We Can Do
According to Shaping Seattle, the new 6220 Roosevelt project is seeking a construction permit.
- January to February 2024: Neighborhood Outreach and Early Design Guidance
- June 2025: Land Use Permit Issued
- TBA: Construction Permit and Start
- TBA: Construction Complete
- TBA: Grand Opening
Any commercial real estate project’s financial feasibility depends heavily on interest rates, and this property is no different. As rates climb, so does the cost of borrowing and construction financing, which can erode expected returns to the point where previously viable deals no longer make sense. The neighborhood has limited ability to speed up this property’s development directly. That being said, to learn more about the real estate development process and about potential policy proposals being discussed, refer to our Land Use article.
That said, if safety issues such as illegal dumping, littering, graffiti, encampments, and overgrown vegetation arise on the site, we can raise city attention by directly submitting a report to Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) by phone at 206-615-0808 or through the “Make a Complaint” widget on their online portal.
Issues
The primary issue reported at the project site was illegal encampments in the parking lot of the former Definitive Audio building in late 2024. Inspectors found no active violations or encampments during their visits, effectively resolving those complaints, and a fence was installed. No further incidents have been reported, and the demolition permit for the Speakerlab building is ready for issuance.
Project Valuation
| Year | Total Appraised Value |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,562,000 |
| 2024 | $10,562,000 |
| CAGR | 0% |
Valuation history includes estimates from King County Department of Assessments starting from when the project was first proposed. They are only an approximation and are heavily influenced by a variety of factors, including the existence and condition of built structures.
Resources:
- Project Proposal 1: Early Design Guidance
- Project Proposal 2: Design Review Recommendation Meeting
- Chapter 23.58C.040 – Mandatory Housing Affordability for Residential Development, Payment Option
- Chapter 23.58C.050 – Mandatory Housing Affordability for Residential Development, Performance Option
- Ordinance 125791
- Speakerlab Official Website
- 7001948-DM and 7003256-DM Demolition Permits for Speakerlab Building
- Definitive Audio Official Website
- Parcel Info for 6206 Roosevelt Way NE
- Parcel Info for 6220 Roosevelt Way NE