December 13, 2021

238 International District units back in design review

Rendering by Neiman Taber Architects [enlarge]

This view looks southeast at the planned building; the colorful spandrels on the top two floors aren’t final, but an indication of the design direction.

Tomorrow, in a virtual meeting, the International Special Review District Board will have its second presentation for the apartments planned at 701 S. Jackson St. Neiman Taber Architects is designing the workforce housing project for OZ Navigator, which will partner with the local family landowner.

The corner site, at Seventh Avenue South, is polluted from past use as an auto shop and gas station. Environmental remediation will be part of the excavation and shoring plan, to be separately approved by the state Department of Ecology.

OZ Navigator plans to partner with the family owner of a corner site in the International District, at 701 S. Jackson St., then redevelop with an eight- and nine-story, 238-unit apartment project. The Mar family has owned the 13,440-square-foot property for decades.

Numbers haven't changed much from the last presentation in September. The nine-story building will have 238 units: 168 of which will be SEDUs (small efficiency dwelling units), with 70 congregate units to share kitchens and amenity areas. No parking is planned. Bike rooms are indicated.

About 3,000 square feet of retail/commercial space is planned. New Century Tea Gallery has a first right of refusal to occupy some of the new space. Outdoor amenity areas are indicated for the ninth floor (a terrace) and roof. All that adds to a total project size of about 102,000 square feet.

The team also includes STS Construction, general contractor; Bush, Roed & Hitchings, surveyor; Murase Associates, landscape architect; and GeoEngineers, geotechnical.

With Neiman Taber and various partners, OZ Navigator is working on well over 1,100 workforce units in projects in and around the Rainier Valley. All are in federally tax-favored Opportunity Zones.

Rents at 701 Jackson are expected to be affordable for households making 55% to 72% of area median income.

There's been no application yet for a demolition permit for the vacant old garage buildings. OZ Navigator's hope is to break ground in the fall of 2022, with completion in about two years.