November 30, 2020

LIHI's $37M affordable apartment project tops out near Othello Park

Photo from Walsh Construction Co. [enlarge]

Othello Park will have multi-bedroom units targeting large and/or multigenerational families.

The Low Income Housing Institute and its contractor Walsh Construction Co. have topped out the $36.7 million Othello Park apartment project in South Seattle.

The 106-unit building is being built at 7357 43rd Ave. S., about a block from the Othello light rail station and across from Othello Park. When finished in October of next year, it will have seven stories of affordable housing for families and individuals, with 30 units set aside for low-income veterans and about 20 for people living with disabilities.

The project will have many two- and three-bedroom units targeting large and/or multigenerational families. LIHI says it will use community preference during lease-up and target historic residents of the community and those at risk of displacement.

When the project broke ground in June, the DJC reported that the building's units will range from 420-square-foot studios to 1,320-square-foot multi-bedroom layouts. A community space on the seventh floor will have an outdoor terrace with views across the park and neighborhood to Mount Rainier. The ground level will have a community room, community kitchen, computer room, leasing office and supportive services.

LIHI says Othello Park is a pilot project for Walsh's cost-efficient design and construction method, which standardizes units and materials, limits unit types, and seeks early design/construction input from subcontractors and consultants.

LIHI is the project's developer and Othello Park Development LLC is the owner. Runberg Architecture Group is the designer. Other team members are: KPFF Consulting Engineers, civil; Quantum Consulting Engineers, structural; JRS Engineering, envelope consultant; Merit Electrical, electrical; A3 Acoustics, acoustic engineer; Emerald Aire, HVAC; O'Brien360, sustainability consultant; and Karen Kiest Landscape Architects.

Funding includes $8.4 million from the city of Seattle, $2 million from King County and $11.9 million in tax credit equity from the National Equity Fund. U.S. Bank provided $20.3 million in construction debt and $11.1 million in permanent loans. LIHI contributed the site, valued at $2.2 million.