July 14, 2017

Award-winning U District project mixes housing, food bank, garden

Photo by Michael Walmsley [enlarge]

The Marion West was completed last year at 5019 Roosevelt Way N.E., for homeless youth and people with low incomes.

Runberg Architecture Group said two of its Seattle projects were honored in the 2017 Pacific Coast Builders Conference Gold Nugget Awards.

The Marion West won two grand awards: residential housing project of the year (attached) and affordable housing community (100 units per acre or more).

Abbey Lincoln Court received a merit award for affordable housing (100 dwelling units per acre or more).

The Marion West is a four-story, 49-unit complex that was completed last year at 5019 Roosevelt Way N.E. in the University District. It houses homeless youth between 18 and 24, and people with low incomes. The 6,900 square feet of commercial space includes the University District Food Bank and a cafe. On the 7,400-square-foot rooftop is a garden that provides produce for the food bank.

The complex also has community space, resident lounges, decks, a community kitchen and space for counseling and job training for formerly homeless youth.

Runberg said in a press release that The Marion West was developed as a partnership of the Low Income Housing Institute, YouthCare and the food bank. BNBuilders was the general contractor.

The judges noted that recognizing The Marion West was “an easy call” because it sets the standard for affordable housing and addresses the urgent need to house homeless youth, according to Runberg.

Abbey Lincoln Court is named for jazz singer and civil rights activist Abbey Lincoln.

It was completed last year by the Low Income Housing Institute at 2020 S. Jackson St. in the Central District. Walsh Construction Co. was the contractor.

The low-income project has 68 apartments — including larger units for families — and two live-work units. Runberg said the building shares a courtyard with Ernestine Anderson Place, creating a gathering space where residents of both communities can interact.

Runberg said that over the years it has received 36 Gold Nugget Awards.

This year, there were 630 entries from around the world.

For all the winners, go to http://tiny.cc/0a4emy/.