The signature blue domed 2nd and Seneca building in Downtown Seattle, has been sold for 19% less than what it cost five years ago. According to county records, A San Francisco based Real Estate investment company picked up the building from Tishman Speyer of New York for $186 million. Tishman had payed $230 million for the building in 2007, just around the peak of the commercial real estate boom. Washington Mutual had occupied roughly 16% of the building previously, and when they failed to make ends meet, the cost of rent went up and vacancies went way down.
The building's value was once way lower than Tishman's $175 mortgage, but they were able to modify the debt in 2010. Despite the low price tag, the sale was actually King county's biggest real estate transaction since 1918 8th Ave. last August, another downtown office building sold for $350 million. At this time, the Second & Seneca building currently has vacancies available.