At Ballard Noma, the recent It Girl of the neighborhood’s condo boom, there’s a top-floor unit for sale with a good layout and an acceptable value proposition of $459 per square foot.
What attracts me to the top floor is the lack of people stomping overhead. It may not be a problem for units on lower floors since the developer went to the trouble of using resilient-channel sound-dampening components between the floors. (I checked this out for my own house and it seems to be the gold standard.) Unfortunately, it will be difficult to check its efficicacy until the building is closer to completion.
Other quieting techniques used at Noma include double-wall framing, which introduces an air gap between common walls. In this unit, there’s only one shared wall, another plus.
I also appreciated the architect squeezing double sinks into the master bath and a den with a closet – touches that could make it feel a bit less apartment-y. But, until you get a chance to walk around the space, you won’t know for sure how the nice touches seen on the paper layout translate into reality.
I’m not crazy about all the windows facing north; I like my natural light. It is on a street side, but 57th, not the heavier trafficked 24th. The view of the grocery store parking lot won’t win any awards, however.
The pictures in the listing are of the model set-ups in the sales center. The earth-toned finishes have a bit of flair without being as trendalicious as the live/work units nearby. You can pony up for granite slab, glass inserts in the cabinets, and more and different tile if you’re inclined.
There are 13 other Noma units listed on Redfin. If you want more info about the complex, check out the news and comments at Urban Living condo blog run by Redfin’s own Matt Goyer.
STATS:
MLS#: 26202136. Click for detailed listing.
Asking: $484,950
HOA dues: $478 per month
Address: 5650 24th Ave. NW #615
Bedrooms: 2 Baths: 1.75
Living square footage: 1056 (per developer)
Last sale price: new construction
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