Yesler Terrace steam plant gets $3.1 million for rehab

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $3.1 million for a rehab of the Yesler Terrace steam plant that would turn the modernist structure into an early childhood educations and adult training facility for the neighborhood. The announcement comes on the heels of news that the Seattle Housing Authority has approved plans for a large-scale redevelopment of the entire neighborhood over 10-20 years.

From the Seattle Housing Authority:

The grant will allow the Steam Plant to be preserved as Yesler Terrace’s only uniquely modernist building. It will serve as a reminder of the neighbohood’s history and become a permanent home for important self-sufficiency services in the center of the community.

The new center will house Neighborhood House’s Head Start program, Catholic Community Service’s Youth Tutoring program, an Express Credit Union for affordable financial services, and SEIU training center and Seattle Housing’s employment opportunity services.

Development Director Stephanie Van Dyke noted that at first glance, the steam plant may seem an unlikely place for self-sufficiency services.

“With a closer look, the building’s potential becomes obvious,” Van Dyke said. “It is centrally located near transit, has big rooms with high ceilings, and western exposure with large windows to create light-filled spaces.”

Services such as Head Start and Youth Tutoring will be able to re-locate from their current Yesler Terrace spaces, which are less than ideal.

Construction is expected to begin in summer of 2012 and take about a year.


0 thoughts on “Yesler Terrace steam plant gets $3.1 million for rehab

  1. Yeah, lets preserve as much of that shithole as possible. A “modernist” brick building with a smokestack..gimme a break

  2. This is just about the *only* thing that will be left when the project is done. The entire neighborhood is being demolished and rebuilt. I’m glad they’re keeping something.

    And if you think Yesler is a “shithole” you must not get out much. There are much worse parts of town, and much, MUCH worse parts of other towns.

    Poor doesn’t always equal evil.