A row house development is next. “No access to existing residence, it is DANGEROUS!” the real estate listing for the old, amazing, and too-far-gone to save house at 339 16th Ave E read (Image: CHS)
A small explosion of new row houses and townhome developments is in the works around Capitol Hill, and two familiar names are involved in quite a few of them. Capitol Hill architect Bradley Khouri and developer Graham Black are pairing up on at least two projects of the type on Capitol Hill, and individually involved in at least five total.
“We have seen an increase in the number of lowrise development resulting from latent demand and an improving economy in Seattle,” Khouri said in an email to CHS. “Capitol Hill is one of the more desirable locations for obvious reasons.”
Update (5:20 PM): The East District Council has added a discussion of townhome regulations to the agenda for their next meeting, which is Monday at 6 PM in the Cal Anderson Shelter House. Representatives from the Department of Planning and Development will be available to answer questions.
There are at least nine row house or townhouse projects currently planned for development in and around Capitol Hill. One of the largest will be at 16th and Harrison, slated to replace one of the most amazing (and dilapidated) houses in the neighborhood. Graham’s development company gProperties purchased the existing house for $1.3 million. King County has no record of when the house was built.
Project 339 (Image: workshop ad)
The new development, dubbed Project 339, is a three-story, eight unit row house complex that features a community courtyard surrounded on three sides by the development. The half-block wide project, designed by architecture firm workshop ad, will include covered parking in the rear of the building and private roof decks. The project will go in just across the alley from the back of the Bagel Deli on 15th.
Capitol Hill-area townhouse and row house permits — 2011 to 2013 and beyond. A year by year look at the trend is below (Source: Seattle DPD)
Graham is teaming up with Khouri on what seems to be the duo’s specialty — shifting a house to make room for another building on the same property. Their latest project at 607 Malden Ave is a similar effort. According to the design review process for the project, the duo plan to move the existing house and build a two-unit townhouse with a basement garage.
Just around the corner on the same block Khouri and Graham are pairing up on another 6-unit row house. 1412 E Mercer will be a 6-unit row house with attached garages. Khouri and another developer have plans to demolish another house at 304 16th Ave E to make way for two, three story town houses.
Most if not all of these projects will not be required to go through a public design review process, and therefore could come as a surprise to neighbors in single-family house dominated blocks though the backlash, if any, will likely not reach the level seen with recent microhousing projects.
Two projects in the Central District, each one block off Yesler Way, are also in the works: A seven-unit town home at 17th and a new single family house + two-unit town house at 20th.
The slate of new townhouse projects comes at a time when single family homes are mostly out of reach to the average Capitol Hill resident and the condo market around Capitol Hill is in desperate need of some new blood, according to local real estate experts. Meanwhile, growth proponents hope for the Hill to build its way out of soaring rents.
A yearly look at permits for the row house and townhouse developments since 2011 — including the next wave of planned projects (Source: DPD)
This is a welcome trend, if that’s what it is. I was afraid we were becoming an apodment-only neighborhood (kidding!…sort of). A healthy balance of housing types and affordability is best, and these townhomes will help to provide that.
Here is more info on what is going up once that old house is torn down: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kogd77djl6hn39c/DesignReview%20339%2016th%20Ave%20E%20%281%29.pdf
I was glad to find out this property avoided becoming more apodments. Townhomes are more appropriate for where this is on 16th being mostly surrounded by single family homes and townhomes.
Awwww, my favorite haunted house!
I have mixed feelings. It is nice that it will be turned into new housing, but it has always been fun to point the haunted house out to visitors.
I love the house pictured, but having restored an 1896 house myself, I can tell you that you will put in far more than the house will ever be worth and pay taxes galore which will price you out of the area eventually.
This house was moved to 16th. It was originally located on 15th, I can’t remember if it was the Safeway site, the bank or Group Health. There were several ornate old places in what is now the commercial area that people were trying to save even 40 years ago. This must have just been too much work.
Regarding the townhouse: I like modern architecture but I think this rendering really doesn’t have street appeal. I live a few blocks away and often walk around here. I really like more windows , landscaping, color and set backs to give them more interest and life.
My dad used to own this house when it was on 15th, using it for the offices of his ad agency. I believe Group Health bought it and agreed to move it and keep it preserved as a landmark building. It was originally owned by the vice president of the Eastern Pacific Railroad, if I remember correctly.
The Degaldo’s (sellers, public record) did say the property was moved here, but from Belltown, not 15th. And no one has put an ounce in to preserving this house in the 10 years I have lived on 16th and Harrison.
I agree with the comments above that it’s good these will be larger units, but I wonder whether the proposed super modern look of these units will compliment the brick apartments and craftsmen homes that make the hill such a treasure. Super modern seems to be the new trend and I’m afraid the hill will lose something precious if it prevails.