The proposed $12 million Creamery-LaSalle development at 1416 Western Ave. moves forward, designed with seven floors of approximately 33,700 square feet mixed use space, nearly 68 percent of that slated for low-income residential housing and the Senior Center.
Proposed rehabilitation of existing LaSalle property, wedded to developing the Creamery parking lot, is headed by Director of Real Estate Catherine Stanford and Property Development Coordinator Helene Sautou for the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA).
The Creamery site, a parking lot since 1980, was originally the Market creamery (dairy) wholesalers and poultry wholesalers, beginning in 1921. The LaSalle, originally a hotel, houses the Senior Center and 40 low-income residential units. Impetus for development is an 11-year effort to expand the Senior Center.
"The problem wasn't finding a new location near the Market, it was long-term operating expenses if the Senior Center had to pay typical commercial rent," Stafford explained. "This made it an unattractive investment to commercial property management firms.
"The 2003 PDA charter language change required for the proposed development is site specific to the Creamery-LaSalle project. This means sale and transfer of real estate upon completion is limited solely to this project."
It took several months' work with market stakeholders - everyone age 16 and older who pays their $1- the PDA board and City of Seattle to obtain the necessary charter language change.
"The PDA is fulfilling its charter mandate with this project," Stanford said. "The Senior Center will nearly double in size to occupy approximately 6,700 square feet total. Low-income residential units will gain approximately 18,000 new square feet and the new commercial portion of the project will be approximately 7,900 square feet."
In 2002, Common Ground's Seattle office conducted financial analysis for project funding. The national development firm focuses primarily on low-income housing.
Eight of the 40 existing LaSalle living units will be lost, three to the new Senior Center, five folded into the 63 new residential unit total and one manager unit. Displaced tenants will be offered units in the new Creamery portion of the project while the LaSalle portion is rehabbed. Service space will occupy approximately seven percent of the total project.
Accessibility a high priority
Assisted accessibility and multiple access points for people with disabilities is a major design component of the project. Plans call for a new elevator to the Senior Center, where views of Elliott Bay will be accessible from the new dining room, TV viewing area and activities room.
"A new kitchen with freezers and coolers, stove tops and dishwasher will enhance meal preparation," Stanford said. "This fits all their programming needs, with a major benefit being space gained for the meal program to serve nearly three times the people they currently serve, which is 200 people."
New commercial is almost a quarter
Proposed new commercial space is approximately 24 percent of the project, to be located on Western Avenue and the Main Arcade level.
"Commercial enterprises and food businesses could be acceptable tenants," she said. "All must abide by the Market Historical Commission rules that include the requirement each be an independent business."
By mid-summer, Stanford expects final funding status for the project's majority funding source: low-income housing tax credits. Other major funding sources are City of Seattle Office of Housing funding levy for low-income housing and Washington State Housing Trust Fund for low-income housing. Block Grant funds and a capital campaign will provide funding for the Senior Center and private financing for the commercial portion.
Seamlessly folding new construction into an historic structure with tenants while rehabilitating that structure is complicated. Additionally, project approval by the PDA board, Market Historical Commission and Washington State Historic Commission is required.
Architect David Hewitt, of Hewitt Architects, located in the historic Doyle Building on Pine Street, leads his firm's effort as the project architect. Among the firm's recent design work is the Port of Seattle's Bell Street Pier project.
Schematic drawings of the Creamery-LaSalle footprint and elevation from Western Avenue show respectful retention of the LaSalle's brick facade, a Main Arcade level with the rooftops of existing structures and a light well that extends through the Creamery site portion.
Beginning in 1921, the Creamery site housed Market creamery wholesalers or poultry wholesalers. The City of Seattle Municipal Archive photographs and other documents show these wholesalers included the Red Shield Creamery Co., Henningsen Creamery, Olympic Dairy and Washington Dairy as well as the Brown Poultry Co. and Sterling Poultry Co. - side-by-side competitors. In the late 1970s, the last businesses to share the building before 1980 removal were a Pizza Pete restaurant and a flower bulb company.
Upon completion, the City of Seattle will transfer ownership to the PDA, the property manager, which plans to sell tax credits of the residential portion to an institutional investments entity.
For detailed project information, log onto the project's website g/info/notices_info/projects.asp" http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/info/notices_info/projects.asp
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