If there's anything in short supply in Seattle right now it's quality affordable housing, especially for low income families. A new University District complex opening soon will add what it can into the mix.
Low Income Housing Institute is preparing to open the Marion West building in June at 5019 Roosevelt Way N.E. in Seattle.
LIHI Executive Director Sharon Lee said the four-story building will have 20 units for homeless young adults, five units for homeless couples or a parent and child, 23 workforce units and a manager's unit.
The units for homeless people will be located on the second floor and while they'll be snug micro-apartments, they'll also share lounges, an outdoor deck and a community room.
Workforce housing will on the third and fourth levels and consist mostly of 400 square-foot studios. Residents will pay $599 to $913 a month depending on their income. Eligible renters will have to make between 40 and 60 percent of median area income, which is $37,680 a year for individuals and $43,020 for couples.
On the ground floor, University District Food Bank will set up shop in their new home, which also includes a teaching kitchen for cooking classes. They'll get to take advantage of a rooftop garden where a rooftop garden will provide vegetables and herbs to the food bank.
Runberg Architecture Group designed the building, which KeyBank provided with an $8.7 million construction loan in order to build. Dubbed the Marion West building, it's namesake bought University District housing along with her husband and rented it out to low income minority UW students while also dealing with discrimination due to her mixed-race marriage.
· U District building has food bank below, and veggie garden on top [DJC]