New $3.5 Million Housing for the Homeless on 1st & Cedar
April 21, 2009 by James
Filed under Featured, SMA Architects
A resident at Harbour Heights provided us with a rendering of a new project supposedly holding a groundbreaking ceremony on May 14th, beginning a projected 15-month construction timeline on the corner of 1st and Cedar beginning June 1st. Ironically, it’s currently a vacant parking lot believed by many to be unbuildable. Not much information has circulated about the project since the news originated from the Real Change newspaper (a program to get homeless off the streets by putting them on the streets asking for spare change to buy the Real Change paper). Designed by SMA Architects, the 7-story building will provide 84 units with full bathrooms and kitchens, with each studio unit averaging 250 square feet. One of the reasons we believe the building is being approved for construction is because there will be no parking provided. The first floor of the building will primarily be for the care facility and staff, with another 2,000 square feet of retail space.
Applicants do not need to have clean criminal records, a stable renter’s history, or proof of freedom from drug or alcohol addiction. “You take a person where they are, and then you provide the level of services they need to succeed,” (Joanne) LaTuchie (Seattle Office of Housing) says.
We have yet to find out why Plymouth Housing Group is pushing for that particularly high-priced location (Belltown being some of Seattle’s most expensive real estate) over other areas, or information as to the need of such a facility on 1st Avenue in Belltown. Also, based on the location, a long waiting list is likely to develop. At the same time, a comment left on the SLOG made mention that the new affordable housing could provide downtown with a lower-income based workforce.
Just this morning I stopped at Uptown Espresso on 4th and Wall and before I walked in & after I walked out I had to tell a homeless person that I had no free money for him. He didn’t even ask directly. He did so by saying, “it’s not your fault I’m homeless, but by the look your face I can tell you’re not a morning person.” What? In fact, I may stop going to Uptown Espresso because it seems to have become a new place for the homeless to loiter–which is just uncomfortable. I also know that someone panhandling can make $100 a day, no problem. I wish I could make my rent in 1 day!!!!!
This is bullcrap. You don’t want to help the decent people who are homeless due to losing their jobs but, you’ll give a no good piece of dirt help. Think about it.
…and Justin’s extensive experience with panhandling no doubt leads him to this brilliant conclusion. Really? Because it’s just sooooooooooo easy to convince people to give you lots of money, right?
“Which is just uncomfortable” – welcome to life in the big city, bub.
Plymouth just posted what the project is for:
http://www.plymouthhousing.org/
When the news just came out, I personally got the impression that it was housing for those with substance abuse problems and/or criminal records.
I’m pretty sure the building was designed by SMR architects, by the way. You might want to check that.
SMA is stated as the architect for this project in the 3rd sentence of this post. If we did make a mistake regarding SMA Architects, but maybe the mistake is on another post, we would love to know which one so we can make the correction. Thank you.