It's hard to miss the new building on the corner of Broadway and East Pine Street. Resting adjacent to the Egyptian Theater, the five-story structure cuts a prominent figure on one of Capitol Hill's busiest intersections.
Titled the Broadway Crossing, the project is in the very last stages of completion and receives its grand opening on Wednesday, March 14. But the building is not merely one of the many mixed-use projects that have been sprouting up on the Hill in recent years. The project represents a fortuitous alignment of often mutually exclusive interests. Broadway Crossing was built as a joint development between Walgreens and Capitol Hill Housing (CHHIP). Rare are the occasions when a large, national retailer is willing to join forces with a local provider of low-income housing. Notably, the project is the first of its kind in the country for Walgreens.
The project is also notable for what it is not. The project very easily could have become something entirely appealing to the neighborhood. Nearly four years ago, during the initial design guideline phase, Walgreens initial plan for the site was presented. It consisted of what many picture when they think about a Walgreens: a large, stand-alone, single-story building with on-site parking.
While such a cookie-cutter approach worked for Walgreen, the neighborhood was appalled. Such a design, the neighborhood felt, represented a missed opportunity for the location, especially in a neighborhood that welcomes density and had said as much in its neighborhood plan. As a direct result of the neighborhood's pointed reaction, and possibly prompted from the bad neighborhood reaction and attention Walgreens' 15th Avenue project generated less than a mile away, the company was willing to explore other options.
Developer Scott Grainger, who owns the property, abandoned the initial plan and set about considering other designs. When the opportunity to include affordable housing was suggested - another element the neighborhood plan encouraged - Capitol Hill Housing soon became involved. CHHIP, the noted nonprofit housing provider founded in 1976, provides more than 1,000 units of affordable housing spread throughout 39 buildings.
"This was new territory for Walgreens and for Capitol Hill Housing," said Chris Cooper, CHHIP's director of fund development. "It's pretty complicated when a national retailer is dealing with an entity such as CHHIP. But Walgreens understood our realities, our deadlines, and worked to make the project what the community wanted as well as what they needed."
Cooper added that this required Walgreens to have more patience than perhaps the company is used to.
"If Walgreens had insisted, they could have put up the one-level store with surface parking. And they could have done that much more quickly. They should be commended for their approach to this project and their patience," Cooper said. The project could well generate national recognition as a result of the unlikely pairing.
"We're glad we were able to take advantage of this unique opportunity to bring a new Walgreens and affordable housing to Capitol Hill," said Rob Hasty, Walgreens vice president of store operations, in a release announcing the building's opening. "And we appreciate the efforts of S.E. Grainger Development in working with Capitol Hill Housing to make this project possible."
Broadway Crossing consists of a 12,000-square-foot Walgreens store on the street level. Above are 44 apartments owned and operated by Capitol Hill Housing. Two levels of underground parking, one for Walgreens, the other for apartment residents, provide a total of 50 parking spaces.
Notably, nine of the units are designated for households transitioning from homelessness. Of the remaining units, 22 to go to families making up to 30 percent of King County's median income; 11 to those making up to 40 percent ; and 11 to those making up to 60 percent.
Beyond addressing neighborhood goals such as providing pedestrian-oriented development, increasing density and providing affordable housing, Cooper noted the project was developed as a green building. More than 50 sustainable features were incorporated into its design and construction.
Such features include using a variety of green products including paints and carpeting, as well as using specific windows and carpets that meet strict environmental standards.
Cooper said that efforts at creating a green building are likely to generate official recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council. Broadway Crossing is expected to qualify for the council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certificate. There has never been a LEED silver certified affordable housing project in the country.
That the project is ready for use represents something of a milestone for the kinds of urban development projects that, against conventional wisdom, can come to physical fruition.
"Broadway Crossing is absolutely a workable, contemporary model of how one might best create urban infill," he said.
A grand opening celebration of the Broadway Crossing takes place on Wednesday, March 14, from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 815 E. Pine St. For more information, go to www.chhip.org.
Doug Schwartz is the editor of the Capitol Hill Times. He can be reached at editor@capitolhilltimes.com or 461-1308.
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