September 7, 2017

54 units are planned for steep site on 35th, near the Fremont library

Rendering by b9 Architects [enlarge]

Units will range from studios to two-bedrooms, with sizes from about 450 to 950 square feet. Rendering by b9 Architects

Next to the landmarked Fremont Public Library is a humble 3,600-square-foot office building at 743 N. 35th St. that was constructed in 1952. Developers Robert Hardy and Elliott Severson purchased the property for $1.9 million in 2013, but replacing the little Lakeview Building with a five-story mixed-use apartment building has not been easy.

The 9,134-square-foot site slopes steeply down to the south, where an alley is located, making it a environmentally critical area. As a result, the shoring and foundation work are substantial, and no permits have yet been issued for the project. The developers also applied for and received a contract rezone from 40 to 65 feet.

Plans went through design review in 2014 and 2015. The current proposal is for 54 units, about 1,900 square feet of ground-floor retail, a bike room for 46 bicycles and 10 underground parking spaces, to be accessed from the alley.

As part of the city's Mandatory Housing Affordability program, three affordable units will be income-restricted for a 75-year term. The developers will also pay about $38,000 in MHA fees.

Units will range from studios to two-bedrooms. Sizes will range from about 450 to 950 square feet. Both of the MHA units will be over 500 square feet.

Total project size, including the parking, will be 42,826 square feet.

A roof deck will face Lake Union to the south, though that view will be at least partly obscured by the new five-story, 110,000-square-foot Data 1 Building being leased by Tableau at 744 N. 34th St.

The general contractor is listed as Brier Project Management. The team also includes b9 Architects; Malsam Tsang Structural Engineering; PanGeo, geotechnical engineer; Coterra Engineering, civil engineer; and The Philbin Group, landscape architect.