Design review board green lights Yesler Terrace development

A new Yesler Terrace development, called Anthem on 12th, received approval by the East Design Review Board earlier this month. Anthem will be a six story, 120-unit apartment building geared towards low- and middle-income families. It will be the first private development to break ground in Yesler Terrace; construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2014 with opening anticipated in the second quarter of 2015.

Anthem is part of a larger redevelopment of the Yesler Terrace neighborhood to replace aging low-income housing.

“Anthem will be one of the first true workforce and transit oriented developments targeted toward teachers, nurses and civil servants working in downtown, First Hill and Capitol Hill,” a press release from the development reads. “Twenty-percent of the units will be set-aside for individuals and families earning 50 percent or less of area median income (under $50,000 per year) with the remaining units targeted towards families earning on average 85 percent of area median income. Anthem is also designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification.”

The development will consist of studios, one- and two-bedroom units, and 4,000 square feet of retail space. Amenities include a rooftop deck with views of the Cascade Mountains and Mount Rainier, pea patches, a community room, fitness area, bike storage and workshop, and dog run. The developer is also hoping to locate a Bike Share station at the 12th and Yesler corner.

Anthem is being developed by local firm Spectrum Development Solutions, along with financial partner Gracorp Capital Advisors Ltd, architecture firm Mithun, and landscape design firm Hewitt.

Official Anthem rendering

Official Anthem rendering

 

6 thoughts on “Design review board green lights Yesler Terrace development

  1. What is wrong with this picture, first off the housing should be open to all classes within the chosen economic range. Who is being granted this special accomodation is the servile class – what is that all about? This is what Seattle has become – there is the upper strata and then the others, the domestic and service classes they need to keep their world comfy. Second off, this building looks undistinguished from the glut of apartments already built and being built. Maybe someone other than industry and political patrons need to be on the design review board for a change. Can it really be that only those with those orientations and sensibilities are qualified to review projects and make decisions about them? Seattle has just become more and more entrenched in this snobbish way of looking at things.

  2. Elizabeth,
    This housing will be open to anyone in those income classes. They are merely listing common occupations of people who work in the city but can’t afford to live here. Making city living accessible to these people is an admirable goal.

    Lynn

  3. I hear that Yesler Terrace Redevelopment was behind the 911 attacks as well.

    All new construction in the city should be put to the voters.

  4. Let’s keep south Seattle poor. Say no to development. No to schools. Let’s be dumb.

    • Poor people are more picturesque when they’re in old timey housing.