CHHIP

Speciality: Mixed use and affordable housing
Executive director: Chuck Weinstock
Year founded: 1976
Largest project: Pantages Apartments

Image courtesy CHHIP CHHIP is developing the Pantages Apartments on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. The project, slated to finish in November 2005, includes conversion of a historic home into four housing units plus a new building with 45 units.

Big questions for Capitol Hill developers center on Sound Transit — Will it happen? When will it happen? When will we know? — and possible zoning changes on Broadway, according to Chuck Weinstock, who heads the Capitol Hill Housing Improvement Program.

The nonprofit develops mixed-use projects for low-income housing. It runs 1,000 rental units in the neighborhood that provide affordable housing for about 1,600 people.

A lot of businesses and property owners are wondering if and how a Sound Transit line will affect them.

Weinstock

Building it could take up to 36 months. “It’s not like it’s going to all happen over a long weekend,” said Weinstock. “People are asking if this is something they should grin and bear for the sake of regional transit,” he said.

Some businesses may be able to, others may not.

Apartment buildings are getting more expensive as the market in Capitol Hill remains strong.

Yet things are in flux on Broadway.

Parcels bordered by Broadway and its parallel streets are subject to split zoning rules, but that could change so it would be easier to develop them.

There could be other pro-development changes, too, such as easing a height restriction from 40 to 65 feet or allowing fewer parking spaces in dense developments, said Weinstock.

Spaces to watch are the US Bank Building and the former Safeway site.