Seattle developer Othello Partners, together with USAA, brings transit-oriented living to the Othello neighborhood; $70 million project is set to break ground in early July and be ready for occupancy in early 2011
Despite the economic downturn stalling numerous development projects around Puget Sound and throughout the country, one developer — Seattle-based Othello Partners — will move forward in breaking ground on The Station at Othello Park, 420,000-square-foot mixed-use project in south Seattle’s Othello neighborhood. The project is adjacent to the Othello Station on Sound Transit’s new Link Light Rail line, which will be fully operational this July.
The Station at Othello Park will offer 352 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes, tenant amenities and approximately 20,000 square feet of retail space, bringing increased vibrancy and greater access to one of Seattle’s most eclectic neighborhoods.
“The Station at Othello Park represents the first new mixed-use development to break ground along light rail and is an important step forward in Seattle’s future as a transit-oriented city,” said Steve Rauf, president and CEO of Othello Partners.“It also signifies an exciting renaissance of the Othello neighborhood, one of south Seattle’s most unique in-city communities, with its rich culture and history. Many have seen the value in this project but none as much as our financial partner USAA, who recognize that this is the time to move forward. We are grateful for their partnership and share a commitment to the community and to The Station at Othello Park.”
Light Rail Living
The development will feature contemporary northwest design adjacent from the Link Light Rail’s new Othello Station. With trains leaving every seven minutes in either direction, residents will be minutes away from downtown Seattle, Sea-Tac International Airport, sporting stadiums or the downtown shopping district, making living in Othello a truly urban experience.
“For a long time, we’ve known that light rail will transform our city. It’s about more than how we get around. It’s about how we live,” said Mayor Greg Nickels, chair of the Sound Transit board. “The Station at Othello Park ground-breaking is a significant step forward and an example of light rail’s potential to create great communities.”
There’s even a 7.6-acre park – with one of the best slides in the city – right next door.
The project’s proximity to light rail offers the option of a car-free or reduced car lifestyle, allowing residents to drastically reduce their carbon footprint. In addition, The Station at Othello Park will be developed as an environmentally-sustainable building targeting the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED-Silver certification as well as “Built Green” and “Built Smart” standards. This requires the project to meet and beat specific environmental standards such as using recyclable and/or energy efficient materials and building practices during construction.
Othello Partners is in the permitting process for the two-acre lot just north of The Station at Othello Park and plans to build 370 apartment homes with 18,000 square feet of retail space on this site. Combined, the two residential properties will form a pedestrian district and retail destination along Othello Street, creating a hub of activity in the neighborhood. With the culmination of other development plans, this intersection is poised to become one of the densest residential cores in Seattle.
When pre-leasing begins in 2011, rents will be market rate with some homes available at 80% area median income affordability.
Uncovering Othello
With Link light rail slated to open on July 18, the increased access will allow more urbanites to discover this south Seattle neighborhood. Othello is nestled between I-5 and Lake Washington, less than two miles from Seward Park. It is one of Seattle’s original transit-oriented communities, developing more than 100 years ago as a result of the electric streetcar line located on Rainier Avenue.
Since that time, the neighborhood has been defined by distinct multi-culturalism and an international influence that is celebrated to this day. As Othello welcomes light rail back to the community 70 years after the first streetcar tracks were removed from Rainier Avenue, this neighborhood is primed for new opportunities to grow and change.
“This neighborhood reflects a level of diversity unparalleled in Seattle and we are excited that light rail will connect us with more people who will explore our shops, restaurants and parks,” said Jenna Walden, president of the Othello Neighborhood Association (ONA). “We look forward to working with Othello Partners and the business community to ensure The Station at Othello Park creates a lively transit hub.”
Light Rail Grand Opening Celebration
To celebrate the opening of Link light rail on July 18, the Othello Neighborhood will be hosting a street party — “Othello on The Move, a Celebration at The Station” — across from the station. Visitors can stop by between 10am and 5pm to learn more about the neighborhood, listen to live local music, register for giveaways and much more.
Photos/do communications, inc. Rendering/Othello Partners
Related:
- Sign of the Times: Out With the Old, in With the New (12/31/08)
- MLK & Othello just got a lot brighter; thank you Augusta Asberry (11/12/08)
- Movin’ on up at MLK & Othello – six stories that is (6/4/08)
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
{ 24 comments }
What’s an ‘electronic streetcar’ ?
can they upgrade that safeway now?
It would make this neighborhood so much more appealing if there was a good supermarket there!
“What’s an ‘electronic streetcar’ ?”
Seriously?
It means it is powered by something we like to call electricity.
After reading the article, I’m not sure what retail options or amenities are there. anyone know?
I sat in on a meeting that they had a month or so ago. As of then they didn’t know what retail they will have. They were open to the idea of a grocery store but it didn’t seem like a likely tenant.
Maybe the threat of a grocery store would light a fire under Safeway’s A@# and get them to upgrade that location.
Somewhere to actually buy some clothes in the South End would be nice.(I know Ross is coming but I mean something other than that)
Somewhere to buy some shoes would be nice too.How about a music store? With all the units being built maybe a furniture store (not a rent to own place either.) There is so much we are lacking in the South End.
Mark, unfortunately you’re probably not going to see any of those things in the near future – the demographics (i.e. $/person) don’t support them. For shoes, if Payless could not make it on Rainier by the I90 I doubt they’ll go further south. I think Ross is as good as it gets for the time being.
Also I believe the drawing above depicts all four potential proposed buildings. My recollection is that only one of the four will be built initially.
I hope Steve Rauf doesn’t intend to manage this development. We had a very hard time getting him to address one of his rentals where blatant criminal activity was occuring. He was receiving a hefty section 8 payment for a dumpy 4 bedroom one bathroom house that had about 15 people flopping there. He was not willing to address the issue and in fact was a barrier in getting the issue resolved. A real horses arse.
Good luck Othello community.
Othello Partners will (possibly?) make a bundle off this… at least, that’s the plan. Find affordable real estate in South Seattle within distance of the light rail, and build lots of “affordable” (for the poor) homes. I sincerely hope this turns out to be a win-win for everyone involved, including the community.
I would hardly call this plan “recession proof” as the economy is getting ready to enter its second phase of this long-winded recession, and many of the top economic analysts in the world are openly suggesting this phase will be a depression, with the strong possibility of hyperinflation via a crash of the $44 trillion debt-loaded US dollar. I will be amazed if Othello Partners comes out in the black on this project, five years down the road.
@ Tom T
I was just making suggestions based on some of the things our area could use. I do not expect to see any new businesses for a while at least not until most of the units are leased/sold. 400-500 units does not guarantee new business just more people that will need to be policed.
I’m sure most businesses will look into available parking,crime rates,vacancy rates,etc. so like I said I do not expect anything soon.
An interesting reference source for my last post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RhnHo3RDfg (video)
from David McAlvany… although he works for a precious metals outfit, the numbers he mentions in his video presentation are indeed accurate.
SL After reading the article, I’m not sure what retail options or amenities are there. anyone know?
I don’t know about retail options but there’s lots of gang activity and shootings. I sure wouldn’t buy an apartment or put a business in that area. What are they thinking?
@edna
“I don’t know about retail options but there’s lots of gang activity and shootings. I sure wouldn’t buy an apartment or put a business in that area. What are they thinking?”
I was trying not to be critical today so as not to offend “Syd” with my “mean spirited” posts but that about sums it up for me.
I’ve been trying to get as many folks as possible to suggest turning the Safeway (which is one of the oldest in the district and no plans for renovation) into a Trader Joe’s. If you’d like to suggest it as well, maybe we could get some quality food at a reasonable price, without the odd funk when you walk in.
http://www.traderjoes.com/location_requests_form.aspx
MarkB — Be vocal and opinionated, but be respectful of other opinions (and not automatically respectful of people who are easily “hurt” by your opinion and then try to silence you, which is entirely different). All opinions are equally valid. Being offended by an opinion is not an excuse. In fact, it suggests weak character and intolerance.
MarkB, who is Syd? I don’t see a post here by anyone with that name.
iTea, a Trader Joe’s would be wonderful! They’re all so far from here and that Safeway is pathetic. Thanks for the link!
FYI, Patrick is right. One hundred years ago, there was no such thing as an “electronic streetcar”. There were streetcars powered by electricity, but electronics didn’t come into maturity until after WWII. They should change that copy.
This project looks very exciting. I wish they’d develop the other corners on that intersection. There’s a lot of potential there.
As for Safeway, they really do need to do something with that store. Unfortunately, with their record, it will be hard to keep them from just closing up shop and blocking any other groceries from going in there.
@laurel
You too??!! Do you mind saying which street it’s on? I’m just curious to know if it’s close to where we live.
@iTea
Already put in my request. Thanks for the link!
@edna
Syd was someone who thought that my post should be removed from the “Imagine you’re a Rainier Valley tour guide” post.
It went like this.
“Can we just delete Marks post since it is clearly not a serious suggestion and is mean spirited as well?”
Speaking of You Tube, maybe someone with a video camera can shoot some footage of the old, out-dated Safeway and post it on You Tube. I’m truly amazed that store is allowed to operate, with spoiled produce, out-dated food, ice cream bars that are half-eaten and left in their original boxes, fortfied beer, etc. The place is worse than a dump. It’s institutionalized racism. I can’t wait for all those tourists, coming from the airport are welcomed by our lovely Othello Safeway and surroundings.
If you want to post YouTube footage of this then make a heading like Safeway allowed to operate during Mayor Nickels term. Maybe we will get people to open their eyes and vote this joker out of office.
iTea…friends and I have been lobbying Trader Joe’s to come into the southend for over a decade. They keep telling us the demographics (read: dollars) aren’t here. They won’t even consider Columbia City, so I doubt they’d consider deeper into the valley. We CAN all keep trying though.
Just as an additional point — it’s important for people to remain neutral despite what they perceive, when reading an opinion. No one can ascertain the true intent behind something just by reading it. You would have to be the person who wrote it to know that, which is why we have laws that protect freedom of speech.
SJ – it was on 59th Ave South – they were eventually kicked off the section 8 program and then Mr. Rauf could not receive his fat rental check so he sold the property. If he has other rentals I am quite sure he is doing the same stuff – overlooking criminal behavior and cashing his hefty section 8 checks.
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