Capitol Hill Housing getting ready to open ‘The Jefferson’

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The six-story housing and retail building at 12th and Jefferson is almost ready to open, and Capitol Hill Housing is getting ready to throw a grand opening party October 19.

Details from Capitol Hill Housing:

A polluted lot in central Seattle, vacant for forty years, has been transformed into “The Jefferson” – a vibrant new affordable housing and retail construction project. On October 19, Capitol Hill Housing (CHH) will hold a grand opening for this beautiful building with 40 units of affordable housing and 4,500 square feet of commercial space designed for local businesses.

The celebration will feature a tour of the project and remarks from Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, CHH CEO Christopher Persons, and other officials from the State of Washington and King County.

This new development will provide 40 affordable one- and two-bedroom apartments for workers earning up to $36,000 for a single person or $41,000 for a two-person family (60% of the median income). The ground floor of the building has vibrant commercial spaces designed to house local businesses.

The Jefferson is built on a former gas station site, situated at a prominent corner on 12th Avenue at the south entry to Seattle University’s business district, just blocks from the burgeoning Pike/Pine neighborhood.

After the property was transferred to City of Seattle ownership in the 1990s, neighbors spoke up in favor of an attractive residential and commercial building rather than a park. In keeping with the community priorities for workforce housing, the site was awarded to Capitol Hill Housing in 2008.

“This is exactly what the neighborhood has wanted for this corner,” stated Bill Zosel, of the 12th Avenue Stewardship Committee. “The commercial space is a great opportunity for small businesses and families living and shopping in the area will keep the street active.”

This project was made possible in part because of federal support secured by U.S. Senator Patty Murray. “I was proud to secure federal funding to expand workforce housing options in the heart of Seattle. This grand opening is great news for Capitol Hill, and for the individuals and families who will call the Jefferson home,” said Senator Murray.

“We are proud to bring more affordable housing to this long-neglected corner,” stated Christopher Persons, CEO of Capitol Hill Housing. “This development supports the priorities of 12th Avenue neighbors, business owners, and everyone invested in the continuing growth of this community.”

Designed by Environmental Works of Seattle, the project is built to the Washington State Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard and has many green features, including heat recovery ventilation units, high performing windows, a low energy elevator and an ultra-high efficiency gas system. Located within a quarter mile of seven bus lines and less than a mile from downtown Seattle, the apartments are designed to promote walking, bicycling, and transit use. The Jefferson was constructed by MarPac Construction.

The Jefferson is funded by the City of Seattle Office of Housing, Washington Works (State of Washington, Washington State Housing Finance Commission), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (a federal appropriation), KeyBank (construction and permanent lender), Union Bank (Low Income Housing Tax Credit Investor). Impact Capital and HomeSight provided pre-development financing allowing the development to move forward while financing was being assembled.

Event sponsored by Key Bank and Union Bank.

Photo attached: The Jefferson (Josh Okrent, Capitol Hill Housing)

 

The Jefferson Grand Opening Celebration

Friday October 19, 2012

2 – 4pm: Tour of the project

3pm: Remarks and Reception

 

RSVP to: [email protected] or (206) 204-3842

 

11 thoughts on “Capitol Hill Housing getting ready to open ‘The Jefferson’”

  1. That area is about to become a huge crime and drug area. Just like Summit and Belmont, those halfway houses bring nothing but scum to the neighborhood.

  3. Exciting block!
    And here’s what I said about the recent gunfire on the block —-

    “I hope that folks who are considering renting at the new (and quite nice) Capitol Hill Housing building come by in the late evening, BEFORE they sign a lease.

    Noise and excitement, almost every night. Loud music, which Waids generously shares with the whole neighborhood. Not dancing in the streets. Fighting. And yeah, occasional muggings and stabbings and shootings.”

    And yes, nice building. And no, scarcely a half-way house.

  4. i hear that bitching and whining on a blog about neighborhood conditions will make positive changes in the conditions of the environment.

    but i feel for you, assuming your claims are true (as a resident that lives in the general vicinity of the site, i have not witnessed these issues and i like my little home and the new apartment building (which this new apartment building after 10 years [i think ten, it may be 15] will convert to market rate condos- but things do go down and as i am not on my scanner – who’s to say?)

    i am sure you have exhausted all other avenues to make positive changes, so i hope this attempt proves successful. you go!

  5. I think this building will act as a deterrence to crime. More witnesses and more people to call the cops when things go down outside on the corner. There will also be more pressure on Waids to get their act together. Cops aren’t going to want to have to go there every night due to noise complaints from all the new families that are moving in.

    I would have preferred market rate condos instead of low income apartments, however I suppose anything is better than that empty lot. At least they got rid of the contaminated soil.

  6. It’s the best-looking “halfway house” I’ve ever seen! This is one of my favorite projects in the neighborhood (I live a few blocks away), and I’m excited it’s finally finished. Here’s hoping a good restaurant or brewpub goes into the downstairs retail space. It’s a really nice looking project.

  7. I know of two shootings on that block in the past five years (as long as I’ve lived nearby), at least to my recollection, but feel free to fact-check that. I walk past there at night every weeknight and many weekend nights; I have no idea what noise and stabbings and gunfire you are talking about. It’s a nice, good-looking block with several yummy restaurants and a single bar. It could be any block in this city.

  8. Word on the street is that the bottom floor will be an office for physical therapy. Kind of a huge bummer for the neighborhood that really wanted an active space here at night.

  9. It’s something. That’s a lot better than a whole lot of nothing.

    Physical therapy is a good thing. I see no reason to hate on this thing. Plenty of more violent and ugly things to cry about.

    Welcome to the containment zone new neighbors. We will grudgingly tolerate your presence.

  10. James in the CD-

    These are apartments for working individuals and families, and will not be converting to condominiums. Condo conversion was in the original plan a few years ago, but the building will stay apartments.