The Panorama House building at 1100 University (Image: King County)
In September, around 200 residents of a First Hill apartment tower — many of them elderly, long-term residents of the building — went on the search for new housing after learning they would be forced to move out for an overhaul of the building starting next year.
The Panorama, a 52-year-old concrete highrise on University just east of Boren, was sold in September for $73.9 million. Shortly after the sale, new owners Security Properties notified resident they would need to be out by summer 2015 for the massive renovation.
A Federal Way-based housing company is offering seniors at Panorama special deals at two of their retirement communities: El Dorado West in Burien and Mill Ridge Village in Milton. Village Concepts is also offering to pay for residents’ moving costs and one month’s rent.
Back in October, Village Concepts director of corporate development Tracy Willis told CHS the company would help tenants pack, help pay for the move, and give them a month or two of free rent to get them on their feet.
“Whenever we see these stories we always reach out to see what we can do,” Willis said. “There are some really frail people.”
El Dorado West (Photo: Village Concepts)
After news of the Security buyout emerged, the company promised to refund all security deposits and offer substantial relocation assistance in accordance with Seattle’s tenants rights laws. In a statement, a company spokesperson said the $15 million overhaul would include replacing the buildings electrical and fire safety systems, as well as updating apartment interiors and adding washers and dryers in each unit.
Despite the promised relocation assistance, some residents have said they will never be able to rebuild the community and relationships that developed over the decades. KING reporter Linda Brill, who lived at the Panorama and moved out after hearing of the renovations, spoke with some building residents in September.
Its nice that seniors have been offered assistance in relocating but Burien and Milton, sheesh. Talk about lose of walkability and ease of access to services.
One month’s rent. What a joke.
[…] Displaced First Hill seniors offered… […]
One would assume it would be really hard to force out fixed income elderly tenants, who realistically, can never afford to live anywhere but the way, way, way out exurbs, but apparently it isn’t. In the Hallmark movie depicting this story, there would be a last minute Christmas reprieve from the pinstripe suited Scrooge. I wish businesses (especially those related to housing) would just add in a few percent to business costs for doing the ‘right’ thing. I realize the ‘right’ thing is hard to define, but it can be obvious at times.
There are low-income housing companies in Seattle that have Senior buildings. It would be nice to see some of these organizations reach out to these people. I’m talking to you SHAG, Plymouth Housing, Seattle Housing Authority and Providence Supportive Services.
I meant to say Providence Supportive Housing.
How many of us would man up, put aside our differences to take in our elderly parents before they’re left at the mercy of system? These are people we owe our lives to.
I haven’t seen any mention in any stories about this that says this is subsidized housing or these renters are low income. It’s not a senior building either, from what I’ve seen. Has the rent been “market rate” for the last several years? Is everyone assuming this is a high-rise of low-income seniors?
I don’t believe anyone thinks that’s the case. Just an older building that has housed some of the same residents for decades who now happen to be soon to be displaced seniors. Seniors who are impacted with the pending displacement and likely in need of assistance.
So my point is…. Help them pack, help them move, give them a month or two of free rent– that seems pretty fair to me. It seems some people think that’s not enough. Having to move is disruptive on anybody, yes, especially seniors. But reasonably, what else should they get? That doesn’t sound unfair.