'Video Only' Building Being Redesigned for Steakhouse

SEATTLE-A 12,000-sf building at the confluence of Westlake Avenue North and Broad Street is being redesigned for occupancy by Outback Steakhouse.

Project designer Mike Cabe of Merrick Lentz Architects, on behalf of building owner Jerry Tenney, is awaiting a shoreline development permit in order to make seismic improvements and expand an existing mezzanine in the building to 3,841 sf, allowing restaurant patrons views of Lake Union. The restaurant will also occupy 6,300 sf on the ground floor of the building.

The shoreline permit was issued last week by the city, but the state has three weeks to review the decision and sign off on it. State approval is expected to come through in mid-January along with all the other necessary building permits.

Talon Construction is the general contractor for the project. The transformation will take about six months. Outback Steakhouse will occupy all but 2,000 sf in the building. The remaining space has not been leased.

The cinderblock building suffered damage in the 6.8 earthquake that struck Seattle on Feb. 28, 2001. Electronics retailer Video Only left the building in October, when demolition of the damaged portion of the building got underway.