Friday, June 26, 2009

Transit Oriented Development Alert: Station at Othello Park Breaking Ground This Summer

I got word yesterday that The Station at Othello Park will be breaking ground this summer for occupancy in 2011. This is a $70 million dollar transit oriented development project that will bring 352 new units into the Othello neighborhood. The residents of The Station at Othello will be a quick light rail ride from downtown Seattle and the airport. Best of all this will bring a large amount of mixed-use retail space onto the street around Othello station. It is exciting to see a big TOD project move forward during these uncertain economic times.

The website of the project is here, it looks like a very attractive mixed use development.

Othello Partners who are the developers of this project have done an excellent job working with the community to earn their support for this opportunity in the neighborhood. TCC has also been working with Othello Partners, the Othello Neighborhood Association, and many other local organizations to put together a fun street fair at Othello station on opening day so swing by and say hi on July 18th! We will be in the Citadel parking lot right across the street from both station and this exciting TOD project.

Update: Here is the PI article on the news.

Here is the full press release on the ground breaking:
The Station at Othello Park, Seattle’s First New Mixed-use Project on Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail,
Receives Green Light to Break Ground


Seattle developer, Othello Partners, together with USAA Real Estate Company brings transit-oriented living to the Othello neighborhood

$70 Million project is set to break ground in early July and be ready for occupancy in early 2011

SEATTLE­­­ ­– June 24, 2009 – Despite the economic downturn stalling numerous development projects around Puget Sound and throughout the country, one developer—Seattle-based Othello Partners—will move forward in breaking ground on The Station at Othello Park, 420,000-square-foot mixed-use project in south Seattle’s Othello neighborhood. The project is adjacent to the Othello Station on Sound Transit’s new Link Light Rail line, which will be fully operational this July. The Station at Othello Park will offer 352 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes, generous tenant amenities and approximately 20,000 square feet of retail space, bringing increased vibrancy and greater access to amenities to one of Seattle’s most eclectic neighborhoods.

“The Station at Othello Park represents the first new mixed-use development to break ground along light rail and is an important step forward in Seattle’s future as a transit-oriented city,” said Steve Rauf, president and CEO of Othello Partners.“It also signifies an exciting renaissance of the Othello neighborhood, one of south Seattle’s most unique in-city communities, with its rich culture and history. Many have seen the value in this project but none as much as our financial partner USAA Real Estate Company, who recognize that this is the time to move forward. We are grateful for their partnership and share a commitment to the community and to The Station at Othello Park.”

Living on Light Rail Offers Sustainability, Access and Even a Park


Giving new meaning to convenience, The Station at Othello Park will feature contemporary northwest design adjacent from the Link Light Rail’s new Othello Station. With trains leaving every seven minutes in either direction, residents are minutes away from downtown Seattle, Sea-Tac International Airport, sporting stadiums or the downtown shopping district, making living in Othello a truly urban experience.

“For a long time, we've known that light rail will transform our city. It's about more than how we get around. It's about how we live," said Mayor Greg Nickels, chair of the Sound Transit board. "The Station at Othello Park ground-breaking is a significant step forward and an example of light rail's potential to create great communities."

The project’s 352 apartments will offer residents several unique floor plans, many with balconies and views of Lake Washington, the Cascades, Othello Park, Mount Rainier and the Seattle skyline. Homes will offer a range of amenities including condominium-quality materials such as granite countertops and high-end, renewable finishes. The community spaces have been artfully designed to represent an urban retreat, including a courtyard garden, an entertainment suite and a 7,500-square-foot rooftop deck—with breath-taking 360-degree views—where residents can entertain guests.

The Station at Othello Park borders the 7.6-acre Othello Park and Playground, which will serve as an extension of the grounds for residents. Located just across the street, this green oasis will be ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, dog owners as well as those who enjoy basketball, outdoor picnics or casual sports.

The Station at Othello Park’s proximity to light rail offers the option of a car-free or reduced car lifestyle, allowing residents to drastically reduce their carbon footprint. In addition, The Station at Othello Park will be developed as an environmentally-sustainable building targeting the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED-Silver certification as well as “Built Green” and “Built Smart” standards. This requires the project to meet and beat specific environmental standards such as using recyclable and/or energy efficient materials and building practices during construction.

Othello Partners is in the permitting process for the two-acre lot just north of The Station at Othello Park and plans to build 370 apartment homes with 18,000 square feet of retail space on this site. Combined, the two residential properties will form a pedestrian district and retail destination along Othello Street, creating a hub of activity in the neighborhood. With the culmination of other development plans, this intersection is poised to become one of the densest residential cores in Seattle.

When pre-leasing begins in 2011, rents will be market rate with some homes available at 80 percent area median income affordability. Sign up to receive more information at www.TheStationAtOthelloPark.com.

Uncovering One of Seattle’s Hidden Gem Neighborhoods

With Link light rail slated to open on July 18, the increased access will allow more urbanites to discover this south Seattle neighborhood. Othello is nestled between I-5 and Lake Washington, less than two miles from Seward Park. It is one of Seattle’s original transit-oriented communities, developing more than 100 years ago as a result of the electronic streetcar line located on Rainier Avenue. Since that time, the neighborhood has been defined by distinct multi-culturalism and an international influence that is celebrated to this day. As Othello welcomes light rail back to the community 70 years after the first streetcar tracks were removed from Rainier Avenue, this neighborhood is primed for new opportunities to grow and change.

“This neighborhood reflects a level of diversity unparalleled in Seattle and we are excited that light rail will connect us with more people who will explore our shops, restaurants and parks,” said Jenna Walden, president of the Othello Neighborhood Association. “We look forward to working with Othello Partners and the business community to ensure The Station at Othello Park creates a lively transit hub.”

The Othello Neighborhood Celebrates Light Rail Opening

To celebrate the opening of Link light rail on July 18, the Othello Neighborhood will be hosting a street party—“Othello on The Move, a Celebration at The Station”—across from the station. Stop by between 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to learn more about the neighborhood, listen to live local music, register for giveaways and much more.


About Othello Partners

Othello Partners is committed to developing environmentally conscious and financially viable residential and commercial projects with a focus on urban in-fill redevelopment. The company, located in the Rainier Valley neighborhood of Seattle, has more than 780 units of residential and 40,000 square feet of retail space under development along light rail. These mixed-use communities will bring high-quality, affordably-priced apartment housing and engaging retail to the Othello neighborhood and greater Rainier Valley.

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