May 22

Old SPU property becomes The Parker and garners press as a model for affordable apartments

Local News, Planning & Construction

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The Parker signYou may recall (or may not – it was several years ago) that we posted on the sale of an old SPU property to Bellwether back in October 2012. At the time, the apartment building was in disrepair, and Bellwether Housing, a non-profit affordable housing agency, planned to renovate the property and create affordable housing on Queen Anne.

It’s now completely renovated and sparking positive local press in both The Seattle Times and Puget Sound Business Journal as a creative and effective way to develop affordable housing in Seattle.

From our 2012 post:

Bellwether Housing announced today [October 24, 2012] that it has purchased SPU’s Robbins Apartments, netting the nonprofit affordable housing agency its first building on Queen Anne. Robbins Apartments, located at 2701 3rd Ave W, opened in 1966 and provided SPU students with close-to-campus apartments, but has been in need of repair for several years.

Bellwether, a non-profit agency, will repair and renovate the building, resulting in 50 affordable apartments that’ll be renamed The Parker. The Parker will provide apartments for people who earn up to 60% of the area median income ($36,960 for one person to $47,520 for a family of three).

Bellwether’s Executive Director Sarah Lewontin issued the following statement:
“This is Bellwether’s first apartment building in the Queen Anne neighborhood. I’m particularly excited that we’ll be able to provide affordable rents in this highly desirable area – giving working people a chance to live close to jobs, parks, schools, grocery stores and very convenient bus service. SPU has been a great partner to make this transition possible.”

The Parker gardenBellwether’s Parker House Apartments on Queen Anne has since opened and hit the news yesterday. Both the Seattle Times and Puget Sound Business Journal have highlighted The Parker:

PSBJ: “The creative way this Seattle developer made a $735-a-month Queen Anne apartment possible”

Seattle Times: “Rents are half the Queen Anne norm at revitalized apartments”

Next time you walk or drive by the property on 3rd W, take note of the difference Bellwether is making in our neighborhood. Not only has the property been nicely rehabbed, it’s also providing a great affordable option for Queen Anne families. And, it’s been 100% occupied since it opened, so it’s filling a need in our community. What was once an near-eyesore of a building is now renovated, complete with a beautiful exterior garden along 3rd Ave W, all while offering affordable housing on Queen Anne.


Tags

affordable housing, Bellwether, The Parker


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