If you value this coverage and want to support the continued independence of Central District News, please subscribe today for as little as $5/month — DRIVE ENDS SEPTEMBER 30.
The Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) breaks ground today on the first wave of construction for the Yesler Terrace Redevelopment project. The first new construction will be at 1105 East Fir Street.
The groundbreaking ceremony this morning at 10 a.m. will include local leaders and partners in the redevelopment efforts symbolically shoveling dirt to kick off Phase 1 of the construction.
Phase 1 includes new construction of a residential low-income housing complex at 1105 East Fir; renovation of the Baldwin Apartments into new low-income housing; refurbishment of the Steam Plant building into new space for community services such as Head Start; and the construction of Anthem, a mixed-income residential building led by Spectrum Development Solutions.
The overall vision for a redeveloped Yesler Terrace is a neighborhood that “will preserve the vibrant, diverse qualities of the existing neighborhood and will feature upgraded affordable housing and homes for all income levels, new parks and gardening opportunities, pedestrian-friendly streets and direct access to excellent mass transit options. On average, residents of SHA’s existing Yesler Terrace housing earn less than 30 percent of the city’s median income, or less than $26,000 per year for a family of four,” according to the SHA.
SHA announced back in December that it had received a $19.73 million grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to jump start construction of replacement low-income housing in Yesler Terrace, in addition to a previous grant of $10 million from HUD received in 2011 to start Phase I of the redevelopment. SHA hopes that by replacing the aging low-income housing in the area, it will create a more vibrant “neighborhood of opportunity.”
If you value this coverage and want to support the continued independence of Central District News, please subscribe today for as little as $5/month — DRIVE ENDS SEPTEMBER 30.
What’s happening with Vulcan and the rest of the Yesler Terrace redevelopment? Both parties, and the media, have been silent for many months. Did the deal fall apart?
Can’t we do better than this? It looks like the typical public housing tower from the 1960’s and 70’s with a little flourish of cheap yellow siding to dress it up. I know costs are an important consideration with a public building, but surely we could have gotten more for the money that is being invested in this project.
It really is ugly.
Those colors and design scream low income.
What colors scream “high income”?
Colors: Yellow, Peach, bright primary colors mixed together – the new townhomes behind the north rainier safeway (blue, red, yellow side by side). Anything that is too cheery screams that it is hiding the sadness.
Materials: Hardieboard, T-111 siding
If they can’t even make the architectural drawings look gook – I fear for what the real thing looks like.
My limited uncultured talent could produce a better product than that.
It’s hideous.