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Tri-Court apartments provide a smoke-free environment for public housing residents 

Renovation on first of three buildings nearing completion

SEATTLE—July 30, 2003—After extensive renovations, the first of the three buildings at Tri-Court in north Seattle has reopened, and residents are moving back in. Residents seeking a smoke-free environment for health reasons will be able to settle in to freshly painted and renovated units with new balcony railings and fixtures.

According to SHA Executive Director Harry Thomas, "We are excited to be able to offer this healthful environment to public housing residents who suffer from asthma and other respiratory ailments. This is one of the first projects of its kind in the country." 

In 2001, SHA adopted a smoke-free living environment policy for Tri-Court, an 86-unit public housing development on North 143rd Street, just a couple of blocks from Aurora Avenue.  One purpose of this designation was to accommodate residents with respiratory disabilities. The policy designated two of Tri-Court’s three buildings as smoke-free to phase in the conversion over time. Later, SHA decided to designate all three buildings smoke-free and to rehabilitate building systems so that Tri-Court would be acceptable to residents especially concerned about the healthful quality of the living environment.

Design of the rehabilitation was largely completed in 2002, with construction work in late 2002 and 2003. The rehabilitation includes a new domestic water supply system from the water main in the street to all apartments; new hot water tanks; renovation of kitchen cabinets, new vanities and fixtures in bathrooms; kitchen and bath ventilation improvements; new baseboard heaters and painting of apartment and common area interiors.

Lisa Dressler is the property manager for Tri-Court; Bruce Garberding is the senior property manager.

Tri-Court residents who smoke and did not want to stay in the smoke-free community were given a choice of relocation options and compensation for moving costs.

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