At the time of its construction, Lake City Court was the greenest affordable housing in Washington State. Lake City Court, completed in 2011, is an 86-unit, affordable apartment building in northeast Seattle.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded approximately $10.5 million to the Seattle Housing Authority to redevelop housing units in the Lake City neighborhood, just north of NE 125th St, between 33rd and 35th Ave NE. Seattle Housing worked with architecture firm Hewitt, contractor Andersen Construction, and civil engineering firm SvR Design Company to complete the building.
An additional $8 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), leveraged with over $13 million from other sources, enabled the Housing Authority to dramatically increase the use of green features in the building.
The development plan called for building the new housing on the southern portion of this 1.9-acre site. The Court was built on the former site of 16 townhouse units that were demolished after some recurring flood damage.
The new building is composed of 51 units serving very low-income families, and 35 units designated for residents with incomes at or below 60 percent of the area median income.
The 4-story elevator-equipped building is comprised of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom units. Parking options include an underground parking garage for 90 vehicles as well as indoor and outdoor covered bicycle parking.
The building includes a community meeting space and a Neighborhood Networks Center, where computer literacy training is provided for residents and other community members. A community garden and playground are adjacent to the building. To promote pedestrian access to nearby transit and retail, a wheelchair-accessible path was built through the site to provide a throughway for neighborhood residents.
- 30 percent less energy for space heating than if the project were designed to meet current Washington State Energy Code
- 4,500 square feet of photovoltaic panels generate 10 percent of the building’s annual electricity consumption
- 1,500 square feet of solar hot water heater panels generate 20 percent of the building's annual hot water needs
- All appliances Energy Star-rated
- Energy Star Advanced Lighting Package
- High-efficiency water-conserving fixtures
- On-demand hot water
- Hot water radiant heating
- All utilities individually metered