August 10, 2022

386 Shoreline units to replace Highland Ice Arena on Aurora

The site is in an area of the city upzoned to encourage more midrise apartment buildings.

Highland Ice Arena, at 18005 Aurora Ave. N. in Shoreline, went on the market a few years ago. Now there's a plan from prospective buyer DevCo to redevelop with a two-building, 386-unit apartment project.

The city of Shoreline recently determined that the SEPA application is complete for what the developer calls Brea. The plan also includes 477 parking stalls. For now, no retail space is indicated. The city says that a SEPA determination of non-significance is expected.

The L-shaped potential assemblage would span well over three acres. It includes a small neighboring warehouse property that traded last year for $1 million. The main 3.5-acre component extends west to Linden Avenue North. The Stephens family has owned it since the early 1960s; the family developed Highland Ice Arena in 1962.

The main property was listed four years ago for nearly $15.1 million by Marty Rood of Mr. 99 & Associates. He told the DJC two year ago that the property was under contract.

Johnson Braund is listed as the architect, with Blueline Group as the civil engineer and SEPA consultant (and likely the surveyor, too). Ascendant is listed as the demolition contractor for the old building.

Per the city's multifamily tax exemption program (MFTE), 20% of the units will be affordable; that works out to about 77 apartments.

The larger west building would face Linden, with the smaller east building on Aurora, which is served by the RapidRide E Line. It appears that the bulk of the parking will be structured, with six levels of apartments above.

DevCo typically builds its own projects via sister company Heartland Construction. Both are run by the Hunden family, with the headquarters in Bellevue. The half dozen affiliated companies also operate in Texas, Montana, Oregon and Montana.

DevCo's biggest local project to date is the 509-unit Solera in Renton's Highlands area, the first phase of which now underway. A childcare center and retail/commercial space are also included. A second phase will add 96 townhouses for the sales market.