Early designs, details released for first private Yesler Terrace development
SEATTLE - A new development planned for Yesler Terrace not only aims to have apartments set aside for low-income Seattle residents but also hopes to hire only low-income earners to build it. And, Seattleites can get their first glimpse of the new project during a design meeting next week.
Seattle-based development company Spectrum Development Solutions recently bought the half-acre site at the corner of 12th Avenue and Yesler from the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) for $2.88 million.
Early design concepts for the project feature a six-story, 120-unit apartment building with roughly 3,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor and parking within the building.
Jake McKinstry with Spectrum Development Solutions says the apartments are designed to offer workforce housing in the neighborhood geared towards nurses, teachers, emergency responders and others employed in Seattle's downtown area.
McKinstry says they also plan to devote 25 percent of the units for people earning 80 percent or less of the area median income.
"We are trying to service people who don't qualify for affordable housing but have still been priced out of the market," he says.
Spectrum Development Solutions has worked with Seattle University on student housing projects at the corner of 12th Avenue and Cherry, and they are currently helping the University of Washington as it expands its West Campus.
"With Yesler Terrace we are excited to anchor the south end of 12th Ave. as well," McKinstry says.
Spectrum also plans to work with SHA to try and fill 100 percent of the construction jobs created during development with people earning less than 80 percent of the area median income, giving preference to residents of Yesler Terrace and other SHA housing.
McKinstry says they hope to break ground on the project a year from now with completion slated for the second half of 2015.
The public meeting, where residents and neighbors can comment on the early design concepts, is scheduled for 8 p.m. Feb. 13 at Seattle University, 901 12th Ave., inside Room 210 of the Student Center.
I am a resident at Yesler Terrace.  Most comments are so misinformed and based on stereotypes.  Most of the crime in the area is not committed by residents, but outsiders of the community.  I live in a vibrant, friendly neighborhood.  I know that where I am living is not the greatest and or sewer system is failing, but corporate greed is not the answer.  Sadly can not fight progress and we will be gentrified and screwed out of our garden community and put into a eventual warehouse resembling cracker jack boxes in the sky. @ LocalLady  they are replacing the public housing one for one , meaning 564 units.Â
Yeah, these people who come here, not born in Washington, sucking up our jobs, it should legal to shoot them all, Washington for those born here, heck for those whose parents were born here, the rest of these people are no different than rats, scum, foreigners, invader,s terrorist.  Exterminate the vermin, who suck up our air and resources.  Compassion for others is stupid, that's why God made my hand fit my assault rifle so well!  Gentrify WA... dgruntled where you live? Let's get together!Â
I grew up going pass that place every weekend, I even know people that live there. I donât understand why people are mad. The development company will make the area a much better place. The people that have to move have been living there for years and even decades, living off the taxpayers dime. Plus itâs not like those people are getting thrown to the streets they will be relocated. Its funny how people become so use to handouts that they believe they are entitled to it.
Yesler Terrace is a cesspool. Low-income families have one of the best views in the city, but there's so much crime and violence going on there, they don't deserve it. People are willing to pay for that view, I say gentrify the neighborhood. You wanna be a thug? Get ready to have a crappier view while thugging it.
 @dgruntled That is one of the stupidest things I've ever read.
".... Spectrum also plans to work with SHA to try and fill 100 percent of the construction jobs created during development with people earning less than 80 percent of the area median income, giving preference to residents of Yesler Terrace ...."
Â
So, they will kick the residents out of their current homes & demolish them, "hire" the residents to build the new developement, and then once it's built those people will not be able to afford to live there/. Talk about slapping people in the face! It's the Seattle Housing Authoirty version of being forced to train you replacement when your job get's off-shored.
WOw. They are permanently removing HUNDREDS of low income housing units from the market - and promising 30 units in the "new and improved Yesler Terrace". The developers are certainly getting their paybacks from the city on this deal.
 @LocalLady I live 2, maybe 3 miles from there. You have no idea how much crime and violence comes directly from that neighborhood. It affects the entire city.Â
Â
If people want a safer Seattle, these are the steps we need to take to make it happen.Â
Â
People wonder why New York is so safe now, and it isn't because of the police, it's because of 30 years of gentrification.Â
From the article: "...but also hopes to hire only low-income earners to build it."
I'm guessing that means untrained, minimum-wage employees to maximize profits.
What can I say, this is a good step forwards towards gentrifying that neighborhood.Â