Lake City Court
Lake City Court will be the greenest affordable housing in Washington State when this 86-unit, affordable apartment building in northeast Seattle is completed in 2011. Visit LakeCityCourt.org for information on leasing.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded approximately $10.5 million to the Seattle Housing Authority to redevelop housing units in the Lake City neighborhood, just north of NE 125th St, between 33rd and 35th Ave NE. Seattle Housing is working with architecture firm Hewitt, contractor H. A. Andersen Construction and civil engineering firm SvR Design Company to complete the building.
An additional $8 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) leveraged with over $13 million from other sources will enable the Housing Authority to dramatically increase the use of green features in the building.
Green features
- 30 percent less energy for space heating than if the project were designed to meet current Washington State Energy Code
- 4,500 square feet of photovoltaic panels will generate 10 percent of the building’s annual electricity consumption
- 1,500 square feet of solar hot water heater panels will generate 20 percent of the building’s annual hot water needs
- All appliances Energy Star-rated
- Energy Star Advanced Lighting Package
- High-efficiency water-conserving fixtures
- On-demand hot water
- Hot water radiant heating
- All utilities individually metered
Development plan
The development plan calls for building the new housing on the southern portion of this 1.9-acre site. The Court will be built on the former site of 16 townhouse units that became uninhabitable after persistent flooding from the nearby Little Brook Creek. These units were demolished in 2002.
The new building will add 51 units of much needed low-income housing - more than three times the number that were demolished. The project will also add 35 tax-credit rentals for residents with incomes at 60 percent of the area median income or below. Seattle Housing is also exploring a partnership with a land trust organization to add five affordable homes for sale, as well as 12 market rate homes for sale.
The 4-story elevator-equipped Lake City Court building will be comprised of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom units and will be completely non-smoking. Parking options will include an underground parking garage for 90 vehicles as well as indoor and outdoor covered bicycle parking.
A small community center will be constructed on the western edge of the site, with space planned for a medical-dental clinic and a computer lab. East-west pedestrian paths will be added between the existing Lake City House and the southern portion of the site.
Progress
Construction began in June, 2010. The expected completion date of the project is October 2011.
