May 7, 2024
Real Estate Editor
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is planning to raze and redevelop its property next to Ballard Commons Park. The long-brewing project has two components, east and west, with 290 apartments and a new church.
The church recently announced that May 17 will be the official groundbreaking for the east building, at 2035 N.W. 58th St. Exxel Pacific will build the project.
The eight-story, 84-unit east building, designed by Perkins Eastman (formerly VIA Architects) and developed by Bridge Housing, will be entirely affordable. Future renters are expected to earn up to 60% of area median income.
The east project team also includes KPFF, civil engineer and surveyor; 4EA Building Science, envelope; PanGeo, geotechnical engineer; Sider + Byers, MEP and energy modeling; Communita Atelier, landscape architect; ArchEcology, sustainability consultant; and Swenson Say Faget, structural engineer and shoring. (Perkins Eastman also designed the interiors.)
Funding sources are to include the city’s Office of Housing (which loaned over $16.7 million), the Seattle Housing Authority (which loaned $935,000), the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, the National Affordable Housing Trust, and JPMorgan Chase (which loaned $26.8 million, backed by WSHFC bonds). The project is owned by a partnership operating on a ground lease from the diocese of the parent church.
A few old church-owned houses were demolished in recent months. (On the west site, the little red wooden church remains for now.) St. Luke’s says the groundbreaking ceremony will include various team members, with refreshments by Edible Hope Kitchen.
The project will total about 74,990 square feet. Tenants will have 21 structured parking stalls and 50 bike stalls. Amenities will include a roof deck and laundry rooms on all floors. Units will range from studios to three-beds.
Security Properties will develop the Phase II west building, at 5710 22nd Ave. N.W., facing the park and north of the library. There’s no declared schedule for that eight-story, 206-unit project, also designed by Perkins Eastman. Venture General Contracting is the builder. The mostly market-rate project will include 42 units to be affordable to households earning in a range of 60% to 80% of AMI.
Within the west building, St Luke’s new 13,500-square-foot space will be designed separately by Olson Kundig. That two-level space will have its own entry on the building’s southwest corner.
Copyright 2024 Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce