Seattle Office Investment Sale Case Study: Gibraltar Tower
Mission Accomplished: Gibraltar Tower | Value-Add / Owner-User Investment
OVERVIEW
- 1518 Third Ave, Seattle, WA
- Office / Retail Building
- 41,705 SF / 6,970 SF / 0.16 AC
- Seller Representation
- Sale Price $2,750,000
“Lee & Associates’ diligent and proactive approach ensured broad exposure and competitive bidding, resulting in a highly satisfactory outcome.”
- Erin Short
Vice President, J.P. Morgan
The Challenge
Gibraltar Tower entered the market as an 85% vacant Class B office building on 3rd Ave between Pike and Pine, an area heavily impacted by ongoing street disorder. The property lacks dedicated parking, and
the easement providing access from 4th Ave is set to expire within three years, creating potential long-term access concerns. Compounding the asset-specific challenges, a wave of distressed, vacant office assets across Seattle were trading below $100/SF, establishing a difficult pricing ceiling.
Our Approach
We launched the property with an initial list price of $2,500,000 to drive engagement and cast as wide a net as possible. From the outset, we targeted every credible buyer profile, including local HNW groups, value-add investors, owner-users, and developers looking for conversion or long-term redevelopment opportunities, recognizing that each group would view the opportunity differently. The campaign was highly proactive and tailored, ensuring the deal reached groups willing to underwrite complexity and create value through occupancy or repositioning.
This approach generated 17 signed CAs, 10 tours, and ultimately 4 offers over the course of 1 month. After going under contract, the buyer faced financing challenges, and we structured non-refundable extension payments that generated an additional $197,500 of proceeds for our client. We also worked through a structure that allowed the buyer to capture excise tax savings tied to their affordable housing component. We ultimately closed at a price of $2,750,000, 10% above the original list price, while also delivering additional proceeds through the extension structure.
Outcome
Listed: July 25, 2025 Competing Offers: 4 Offers Under Contract: September 26, 2025 Closed: April 7, 2026
For more information regarding this case study, please contact:
STUART WILLIAMS
Principal
D (206) 219.1281
[email protected]
ALEX MUIR
Senior Vice President
D (206) 219.1283
[email protected]
MCCALLUM MEAD
Associate
D (425) 818.2656
[email protected]
SCOTTY ROWE
Associate
D (425) 818.2655
[email protected]