Image from LIHI

The Low Income Housing Institute is celebrating the grand opening of its 60-unit Ernestine Anderson Place at 20th and Jackson Friday.

The building, named after the Garfield grad and jazz superstar, will house 45 currently-homeless seniors and 15 low-income seniors. The ground floor will have community space for residents.

The $13 million project got funding from various city, county, state, federal and private sources. It will bring life back to a block of Jackson that has stood vacant for years.

More details from LIHI:

The Grand Opening celebration for the Low Income Housing Institute’s (LIHI) Ernestine Anderson Place in the Central Area is scheduled for Friday, February 8th at 2:30pm.  The event will take place at 2010 South Jackson St., Seattle.

Speakers include: Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, King County Executive Dow Constantine, King County Council Chair Larry Gossett, and Seattle City Councilmembers Bruce Harrell and Nick Licata. There will be music and poetry performances by Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute artists: Josie Howell, Honoria Hildreth, Nikkita Oliver, and Robin Rojas.

Mayor Mike McGinn will issue a proclamation declaring February 8th Ernestine Anderson Day.

Ernestine Anderson Place is named in honor of legendary jazz singer Ernestine Anderson, an international star from Seattle’s Central Area and graduate of Garfield High.  In a career spanning more than five decades, she has recorded over 30 albums. She has been nominated four times for a Grammy Award. She has sung at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Monterey Jazz Festival, as well as at jazz festivals all over the world.

Ernestine Anderson Place features 60 studio and 1-bedroom units and a manager’s unit. Ground floor community space for residents includes an exercise room, a library with internet-enabled computers, a classroom, a service space and an outside patio garden.  Permanent housing linked with supportive services will be provided for 45 homeless seniors, including 8 veterans, as well as housing for 15 low-income seniors.  Sound Mental Health will provide on-site supportive services and Operation Nightwatch is a community partner.

“There are an estimated 1,000 seniors who are homeless in King County. Ernestine Anderson Place will provide a wonderful and dignified home for many seniors who are otherwise vulnerable living on the streets, in shelters or in their cars, stated Sharon Lee, LIHI Executive Director. The recent One Night Count conducted on January 25 found over 2,736 homeless people sleeping on the streets, which is 5% more than last year.

“Thank you to voters who supported the King County Vet Levy and the Seattle Housing Levy. The federal Housing Tax Credit program provided $9.5 million in private investment out of the $13 million total development budget.  We appeal to Congress to keep this vital program in place during upcoming budget negotiations,” urged M.A. Leonard, Vice President and Pacific Northwest Market Leader at Enterprise Community Partners.”

Ernestine Anderson Place is built green and designed with long term durability as a priority. The building features energy efficient insulation and fan systems, and tested very well for air barrier efficiency. Washington State Evergreen Standards were followed. The project uses low VOC materials, Energy-Star appliances, and dual-flush toilets throughout. Ernestine Anderson Place is a non-smoking facility, which will help ensure good indoor air quality for the residents.
Ernestine Anderson Place is financed with funds from City of Seattle; King County; Tax Credit Equity through Enterprise and the Washington Housing Finance Commission; Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco; Seattle Housing Authority; HUD and United Way of King County.

Anderson in action: