July 8, 2024

A rare construction project on Mercer Island

Rendering by Covenant Living [enlarge]

There’s no declared schedule for the project, and SEPA review seems likely.

The Covenant Shores senior community, at 9150 Fortuna Drive on the north side of Mercer Island, now has nine buildings on its over 12-acre campus. The original buildings date to 1970; additions followed from the 1990s to about 2003.

Among them, fairly close to the shoreline, is the original Lodge, a one-story dining hall and clubhouse with about 15,012 square feet. That's now bound for demolition and replacement, with some surface parking to also disappear. Owner Covenant Living, based in Illinois, is planning a new and larger replacement, with about 106,930 square feet on four levels, including structured parking.

The plan for what the owner calls the new Commons Building emerged in February. The city's design review board received a more formal presentation last Wednesday. There is no credited architect; the owner is evidently performing that role.

On a sloping site, the addition will be mostly invisible to those passing by on North Mercer Way. Parking, with about 65 stalls, will be on one structured level and one mostly below grade.

The mixed-use building is to have 16 independent living units on its top floor. The main level is to have a large activity/amenity room, offices for staff, a cafe, restaurant and coffee shop.

Height above grade won't be more than the 36-foot city maximum. The building's L-shaped footprint will orient its several terraces and patios toward the large central lawn.

A partial green roof is planned. Navix looks to be the civil engineer. There's no declared schedule for the project, which will likely require SEPA review, given its proximity to Lake Washington. And the neighbors, once they discover the plan, may well sue to stop it.

Covenant Living grew out of a Chicago church the 1880s, which expanded into hospitals and what it called the Home of Mercy, to provide senior care. Covenant now lists 19 communities in 10 states. The Mercer Island community has 237 units on a continuous care model, with many ancillary services.