After a year-long wait and much City process, Capitol Hill Housing’s 12th and E Jefferson project successfully received a rezone from the Seattle City Council on December 13th!! On December 15th, we were notified of funding from Washington Works through the WA State Housing Finance Commission. More great news!!

Things are looking good for us to start construction on this key corner in the coming year!

Project details:

• 40 affordable apartments for neighborhood workers earning up to 60% of area median ($36,000 for a single person, $41,000 for 2-person family)

• 5 stories of one- and two-bedroom apartments

• One level (5,000 sq feet) of commercial spaces designed for local businesses

• Building design and program supported by the local community

The latest on the digging at 12th and Jefferson!

Capitol Hill Housing has been planning to redevelop the long vacant lot at the corner of 12th Avenue and E Jefferson Street with a 6-story building with retail on the ground floor and 40 affordable workforce housing units above. The parcel is currently zoned 4 stories and CHH has been working for over a year, navigating the City’s rezone process. Six stories will allow CHH’s project to pencil out financially, and will provide more housing options in the area and more “eyes on the street” and generally jazz up a really sad, vacant corner lot that has so much potential.

CHH recently went before the City’s Hearing Examiner and we’re happy to report that the Hearing Examiner recommended approval of the rezone! The rezone request met several criteria for approval including:

• Increased housing capacity meets Comprehensive Plan goals for increased density in urban villages by 2024
• Parcels to the south and east are already zoned 65 feet so an increase would match existing zoning in the area
• Increased housing and retail at the site meets Neighborhood Plan goals
• Improved sidewalks adjacent to the project would improve the pedestrian character of the area
• There are no adverse environmental impacts from the increased height at the site

The rezone request needs to be approved by the City Council to make the change official. We hope that the rezone will get on the Council calendar shortly so that the rezone will be in place as we hear back from our City and State funders for the project.

We also want to report on the activity at the site that is going on right now. The site was a gas station in the 1920s-1960s, which left contaminated soil. CHH has been working with King County Brownfields Program and the previous owner of the site on a mitigation plan. Crews are currently digging and removing contaminated dirt from the site, with work to be completed in the next month.

Thanks for all the neighborhood support for this project over the years. With the rezone and mitigation work moving forward, we are one step closer to having a site ready for construction!

Seattle Housing Authority is planning to demolish the building on the northwest corner of 12th and Yesler (formerly Pizza Time). Demolition should happen sometime between mid-October to mid-November. SHA promises to maintain the site and keep it free of litter.

The site will likely sit empty for some time, although SDOT has mentioned that they are considering part of the site for a streetcar barn for the First Hill Streetcar.

Capitol Hill Housing’s future project at the corner of 12th Avenue and E Jefferson Street will be going through its final Design Review meeting next week.

Wednesday, August 4th at 6:30pm
Seattle University Alumni & Admissions Building
12th Ave and E Marion Street

The new building will be a neighborhood-enriching blend of small retail spaces marketed to local businesses and 40 affordable apartments. The apartments are being designed for people who work in the neighborhood and in nearby employment centers and who earn up to 60% of area median income. The new development will be green-built, and is currently being designed by the Capitol Hill architecture firm Environmental Works.

The site is due to be excavated in early fall to remove petroleum contamination. We will also seek permanent funding for the development this fall.

The Design Review meeting is a great way to learn more about the project and share your thoughts about the design.