Northwest Work Lofts — Local services in Seattle

My company leased a 2,700 sq. ft. space, one of the larger units, and quickly learned the lease is extremely one-sided. Tenants are responsible for nearly everything, including elements like doors. Our garage door failed soon after move-in, and despite being improperly installed (confirmed by a repair company), management refused responsibility. The repair cost was over $2,000.

The building lacks air conditioning, making summer temperatures unbearable—90°F+ inside even when it’s in the mid-70s outside. In winter, poor insulation and unreliable radiators leave the space freezing. Black particles regularly fall from the ceiling onto our inventory and desks. We still don’t know what they are, and worry about potential health risks.

The structure is visibly aged and feels unsafe, especially in seismic conditions. Parking is another nightmare. We were misled about enforcement of 4-hour limits and told we could park in front of our garage door or inside the unit if needed. Both claims were false. Later, after a lease dispute, we were forced to sign an amendment banning indoor parking—a clear retaliation.

The most difficult aspect was dealing with the property manager, Jeff Pattison. From day one, he was obstructive and controlling. We were only informed post-signing that move-in/out was restricted to after-hours or weekends, allegedly to protect other tenants. When we spoke to our neighbors, they had no issue with our schedule—Jeff simply wanted control.

Our lease permitted light industrial use, including woodworking. Due to a defective wall (landlord’s responsibility), some dust leaked into the adjacent unit. Jeff insisted we pay to remove our equipment so they could repair the wall—despite the lease clearly assigning structural responsibility to the landlord. When we pushed back, he threatened non-renewal of our lease. We involved legal counsel, and they eventually repaired the wall from the neighbor’s side. But this led to further retaliation: we were forced to sign a “good standing clause” during our second renewal, waiving all prior claims—an attempt to erase their breach of contract.

The only bright spot was the maintenance staff, who genuinely tried to help despite being caught in the crossfire of poor management.

We’re relieved to have moved out. This property is a constant headache. Commercial space should support your business—not distract from it. If you’re considering leasing here, bring a strong real estate attorney. Many tenants feel similarly, though some remain stuck due to sunk costs in tenant...

Noisy traffic (bad for phone calls), hot in the summer (no a/c). Cold in the winter, though this winter (2016-2017) it's been slightly better than in the past, at least now they're trying to keep the offices warm. In a previous year we complained about the cold and they had the radiator off, they came in with a thermometer and said it wasn't cold enough to complain. The building is heated by a central radiator system, so when the radiator system breaks, find somewhere else to work for a day or a week (happened this winter).

Some of the units have wooden floors, some do not. Some units have running water, some do not. Everyone in the Alpha building shares 2 toilets, so be prepared to occasionally wait in line to use the toilet. Luckily the bathrooms are cleaned daily.

We've stayed, but it is far from ideal. When we moved in we were told that the building didn't have problems with cold/heat, which was a bold-faced lie. This winter I haven't needed to wear a jacket at my desk as much as in previous years, but I guarantee I'll be sweating bullets at my desk...

We had a very tricky move from one suite to another in the Northwest Work Lofts, and management couldn't have been more helpful getting us through it. They were willing to negotiate on move in date, gave clear instructions and assistance, and went out of their way to keep us posted with updates. Thank you so much Jeff, Nicole,...