June 15, 2023

120-unit permanent supportive housing project tops out in Lake City

Rendering by Rolluda Architects [enlarge]

The building will feature an exterior mural by indigenous artist Andrew Morrison.

Chief Seattle Club is celebrating the topping out of its latest permanent supportive housing project at 14315 Lake City Way N.E.

The development, called Sacred Medicine House, has 120 studio units. 117 of those will be permanent supportive housing for urban Native and Indigenous community members experiencing homelessness. Three units will be reserved for on-site community managers.

Crews from BNBuilders topped out the five-story building last month. A celebration event was hosted by BNB, with Chief Seattle Club elders providing a traditional blessing ceremony to mark the occasion.

Chief Seattle Club will own and operate the property and will also provide on-site culturally focused support and services for residents.

The property is designed by Rolluda Architects with indigenous design elements provided by Jones and Jones.

In addition to the units, the development will have an approximately 11,100-square-foot ground floor common area, on-site supportive service space, and an outdoor central courtyard.

Construction started in late July 2022. BNBuilders is on track to complete the project by the end of the year.<

Photo courtesy of Lotus Development Partners

BNBuilders celebrated the topping out last month.

“Our goal is to not only provide a safe place to live, but the space to pray and gather, and be part of a community,” Derrick Belgarde, executive director of Chief Seattle Club, said of the project in a press release. “Many relatives have been displaced from their tribal communities, either through forced federal relocation programs, or disconnection from family. Our housing and shelter developments focus on creating a sense of belonging and connection.”

This is the non-profits fourth permanent housing development. The first, ?ál?al, an 80-unit project in Pioneer Square, opened in February 2022. The latest, Goldfinch, a 63-unit community for indigenous elders on Aurora Avenue North, opened in January.

The project team for Sacred Medicine House also includes Lotus Development Partners, project and construction manager; I.L.Gross, structural engineer; KPFF, civil engineer; Wood Harbinger, electrical engineer; The West Studio, landscape architect; BEE, envelope; Emerald Aire, mechanical; and SJS, plumbing.