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April 24, 2015

Cheryl Chow Court opening in Ballard

Photo courtesy of LIHI [enlarge]
The units are for low-income seniors.

The Low Income Housing Institute is holding a grand opening at 10 a.m. today for Cheryl Chow Court, a 50-unit apartment building at 2014 N.W. 57th St. in Ballard.

GGLO was the architect, landscape architect and interior designer. Walsh Construction Co. was the contractor.

The team also included Emerald Aire, mechanical contractor; Geotech Consultants, geotech; JGL Acoustics, acoustical; KPFF Consulting Engineers, civil; Michael Fancher & Associates, HUD inspector; Patriot Fire Protection, fire consultant; Quantum Consulting Engineers, structural; RDH Building Sciences, building envelope; and Rushing Co., mechanical, electrical and plumbing.

The six-story building has studios and one-bedroom apartments, which are open to people age 62 and older who make 50 percent or less of the area median income. Fifty percent is $31,400.

Rent will be 30 percent of the resident's income.

The building has a library with computers, community room, patio garden, and a rooftop deck with gardens and a green roof area.

Universal design features include lower counter heights, lever door hardware and roll-in showers.

The complex has low-flow fixtures, native plant landscaping, and a drip irrigation system.

Ballard Urban Rest Stop — with free showers, laundry and restrooms for homeless people — will be located on the first floor.

The building is named for the late Cheryl Chow, a Seattle City Councilmember who LIHI said secured funding for the purchase of Julie Apartments in downtown Seattle, and for the Urban Rest Stop.

LIHI said in a press release that Chow helped get the council to create housing for homeless people at the former Sand Point Naval Air Station at Magnuson Park.

Cheryl Chow Court is near retail shops as well as Ballard Public Library, Ballard Commons and Swedish Ballard.

LIHI said low-income seniors need more affordable housing in Ballard, a neighborhood where many new apartments have been built.

LIHI Executive Director Sharon Lee said in an email that her organization may not be able to build more affordable housing in Ballard — just like in South Lake Union, where LIHI also has been priced out.

Charlie Werhane, president and CEO of Enterprise Community Investment, said, “Our country is in the midst of a housing insecurity crisis, and in Seattle, it is a growing issue.”

Funding for the project was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, city of Seattle, Enterprise Community Investment, Banner Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and Duncan Haas and Birgit Walbaum.

Speakers at the grand opening will include Congressman Jim McDermott and members of Chow's family.




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