DESC 15th Ave will be the second DESC project in Seattle’s Interbay neighborhood and it will provide more housing, health services, and individualized support to help people achieve long-term stability.
This project will provide permanent supportive housing for people who have experienced long-term homelessness, while also living with serious health conditions like severe mental health challenges, substance use disorders, physical disabilities, and other complex medical issues.
Notable Services
- On-site supportive services including consult rooms, medical office, 24/7 reception area as well as lounge and activity rooms.
Construction Information
- Significant shoring required due to steep slope on east side of property
- Discovery of underground storage tanks from previous property owners required contaminated soils mitigation
- Project imprint allows for minimal laydown space and is situated on a major arterial causing significant coordination with local municipalities and neighbors due to traffic impacts.
Architect Information
- Unique Design Features: This building includes many design features that are included to meet the unique needs of DESC’s residents and to lower maintenance costs for the building. These features include floor drains in each unit bathroom, overflow drains on kitchen sinks, timers for the unit cooktops, and in some units water meters linked to automatic shutoffs to prevent flooding. The residential units that face 15th Avenue West have special windows and wall assemblies selected to reduce traffic noise transmission through the wall. The project also features a ground floor outdoor residential community space with a protective concrete wall that works as a sound barrier from 15th Avenue.
- Sustainability Features: Energy efficient heat pump hot water heaters, energy recovery ventilation for all residential units, and efficient induction cooktops in all units. Interior finishes and paints were selected to minimize toxic chemical outgassing. The project has low water usage plumbing fixtures in all residential and common bathrooms.
- Key Design/Site Challenges: The building was designed to fit onto a site with a steep slope rising over 20 feet from 15th avenue to the alley. The landscape design includes ground cover and trees specifically chosen to stabilize the steep slope with their root systems.
Financials
| Total Cost | $31 million |
| Funding Stack & Sources | Seattle Office of Housing, King County Housing Finance Program, Washington Department of Commerce Apple Health and Homes, FHLB/AHP and Heritage Bank, 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits |
Project Partners
