Come and learn from Michael Mariano, AIA and Grace H. Kim, AIA (schemata workshop, inc.) about the Capital Hill Lightrail Stations’ new Transit Oriented Development.

The mixed-use transit oriented development project has been a decade in the planning. The light rail station opened in early 2016. Sound Transit owns the almost two-acre site, and had previously solicited mixed-use proposals from developers — with a major component to include affordable housing.  Through an RFP process, Portland-based Gerding Edlen Development (GED) was selected in 2015, and now has a 99-year lease for most of the property that will begin when the complex opens in 2020. Capitol Hill Housing (CHH) owns the B-North site.

Project Information:

After a decade’s worth of grassroots work reaching out to the neighborhood, gathering data and developing design guidelines based on community feedback, Schemata Workshop (Buildings B-North and B-South) partnered with Hewitt (Buildings A and C) and Gerding Edlen to design a mixed-use urban community on the land above the Capitol Hill Link Station. An iterative design process balanced feedback from clients, multiple neighborhood group meetings, and open houses, as well as feedback through Seattle’s Design Review process, illustrating the impressive number of stakeholders in this project.

Other Partners: Berger Partnership is the landscape architect for the entire project. Other consultant team members are MKA for civil, KPFF Portland for structural, PAE for MEP, JRS for building envelope, Skylab for interiors, FMS for lighting design, A3 Acoustics for acoustic design, and Studio Pacifica for accessibility. Lease Crutcher Lewis will build Buildings A, C and B-South for GED, while Walsh Construction Co. is responsible for Building B-North.

COMMUNITY DIALOGUE AND COMMUNITY-FOCUSED DESIGN

A vision of sustainability and equity designed to contribute to the vibrant life of Capitol Hill was the product of a community-driven effort in 2009 by a team effort from Schemata Workshop & MAKERS.  A subsequent City-led master-planning effort in 2012 provided for both market-rate and affordable housing, an array of small to large retail spaces, and community-oriented venues.  The project embraces the new, underground Capitol Hill light-rail station, position transit to serve both residents of Capitol Hill and as a regional and pedestrian-friendly eat-shop-play destination.

BALANCING COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS OBJECTIVES

Over 400 units of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments are included, of which approximately 38% will be affordable — at or below 60% of Seattle Area Median Income. A community center will anchor the northeast corner at John Street and will provide community members with a space for meetings and other events. At the center of the proposal, and above the train station, is a public plaza to host the year-round Capitol Hill Farmers Market. A large market hall adjacent to the plaza will host additional local vendors in a high-energy, interior environment. The variety of retail and housing types, the collaboration between designers and the community, and the generous public spaces reflect the neighborhood’s diverse history, vibrant character and visionary aspirations for Capitol Hill.

• 428 units in all four buildings: 110 of which will be permanently affordable for CHH; 66 of GED’s 318 units will be affordable for 12 years, using the city’s Multifamily Tax Exemption Program
• 32,000 square feet of retail/commercial space
• 240 parking spaces below grade
• 254 bicycle parking stalls