June 22, 2016

LIHI opens 49 units for homeless youth and low income workers in U District

Photo courtesy of BNBuilders [enlarge]

The Low Income Housing Institute has completed Marion West, a four-story, 49-unit building at 5019 Roosevelt Way N.E. in the University District.

The housing is for homeless youth between 18 and 24, and low-income workers. Homeless youth will occupy 20 of the studio units and pay 30 percent of their income for rent. Low-income workers will occupy the remaining 29 studio units, and pay rents between $570-$890 a month.

The complex has 6,900 square feet of commercial space, including a food bank and cafe. It also houses community space, classroom, counseling offices, resident lounges, decks and a community kitchen. The food bank will use the roof to grow food.

Surface parking can accommodate 10 vehicles.

Runberg Architecture Group designed the project. BNBuilders was the general contractor.

The building is named for racial justice champion Marion West, who helped break the color barrier in the U District by housing African Americans and students of color in the 1950s.

Funding for the project came from the city of Seattle, King County, Washington State Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. KeyBank provided construction financing for both the food bank and housing. The Washington State Housing Finance Commission provided a 9 percent tax credit allocation.

Additional funds came from the National Equity Fund, Wyncote Foundation Northwest and Seattle Housing Authority, which is providing rental assistance.