Landmark ESCALA Building Reaches Full Height

Milestone Caps Off Exciting Growth Phase for Downtown Seattle

SEATTLE, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- ESCALA, the elegant 30-story condominium
development now under construction in Seattle's Midtown district, today
celebrated its "Topping Out," signifying that the project has reached its full
height: 330 feet above street level. On schedule for completion in late 2009,
ESCALA is redefining downtown living, offering luxury homes and unprecedented
amenities in one of the best locations in Seattle.

"This celebration is a testament to our homeowners, our partners and our team,
all of whom have shared an unwavering vision for this project and for downtown
Seattle," said John Midby, principal of Seattle-based LEXAS Companies, the
developer of the $350-million ESCALA. "We are now entering the most exciting
period for the project - and for downtown Seattle. With traffic at the sales
center high and interest rates at historic lows, we have extraordinary
momentum as we move into the final phase leading up to project completion."

Since ESCALA broke ground in the summer of 2007, no other high-rise
condominium projects have commenced construction, meaning that ESCALA will be
the last such development to open in downtown Seattle until at least 2011- and
perhaps much later.

When construction is completed later this year, ESCALA will offer 270 grand
condominium homes and a 25,000-square-foot private city club. Club Cielo, the
first new private club to open in Seattle in more than two decades, will
provide a sanctuary for homeowners, their guests and club members. (A select
number of memberships will be available to non-residents.) Seattle-based
Columbia Hospitality, Inc. will manage the club.

With decades of successful real estate development experience, John Midby of
Seattle-based LEXAS Companies made headlines last June by raising prices.
Moreover, he is one of the few developers currently pursuing future projects.

Residences at ESCALA range in size from 909-square-foot, one-bedroom City
Homes to three-bedroom Sky Villas at more than 3,000 square feet, to
penthouses up to 16,000 square feet. All homes are adorned with expansive
outdoor terraces and many feature private elevator vestibules.

ESCALA's 12,000-square-foot presentation center is located in the Centennial
Building on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Stewart Street and is open to the
public from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The presentation center features a
2,600-square-foot model residence that has been fully furnished by Masins and
adorned by art provided by ESCALA's arts partner, PONCHO.

More information about ESCALA is available at www.EscalaSeattle.com or by
calling 206-816-6300 for an appointment.

Media Contacts: Megan Kahn or Nate Cole-Daum, Nyhus Communications LLC for
ESCALA, (206) 323-3733 | megan@nyhus.com or nate@nyhus.com

SOURCE ESCALA

Megan Kahn, megan@nyhus.com, or Nate Cole-Daum, nate@nyhus.com, both of Nyhus
Communications LLC, +1-206-323-3733, for ESCALA