Sound Transit selects short list of potential developers for Capitol Hill sites

Public meeting June 2 for community to meet transit-oriented development proposers

Sound Transit has selected a short list of eight developers who will be invited to submit proposals for new development above the Capitol Hill light rail station in Seattle scheduled to open in early 2016.

The firms were selected from a request for qualifications to develop four sites above the station on Broadway Avenue between East John and Denny streets. Sound Transit expects more than 14,000 daily boardings at the station in the heart of Capitol Hill by 2030.

The Capitol Hill Station is part of the $1.8 billion University Link light rail extension project that will extend light rail 3.1 miles from downtown Seattle to Capitol Hill and the University of Washington. The line is entirely underground and currently more than $100 million under budget and six to nine months ahead of schedule.

A minimum of 397 apartments could be built on the sites, with at least 36 percent reserved for below market-rate affordable housing. The new developments will also feature ground-level retail and a public plaza which could be the home for the Broadway Farmer's Market.

The firms that will be invited to submit development proposals are Capitol Hill Housing & Johnathan Rose Co., Gerdling Edlen, Lowe Enterprise Real Estate Group, MacFarlane Partners, Security Properties, The Wolff Company LLC, Bellwether Housing and Lennar Multifamily Communities LLC.

For more information on the development sites see: soundtransit.org/capitolhillTOD.

Sound Transit and the Capitol Hill Champion neighborhood advocacy group will host a public meeting June 2 for the community to meet the potential developers and discuss neighborhood priorities for the sites.

Meeting details:
Monday, June 2
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Broadway Performance Hall
1625 Broadway Ave.
Seattle, WA 98122

Proposals for the sites will be due in September. Sound Transit expects to select winning proposals in October. Construction could begin in 2016 after the station opens.

Sound Transit received submittals from 14 developers this spring after requesting interested firms to submit their qualifications. Sound Transit selected the nine firms to submit detailed proposals based on their experience, financial capacity and ability to deliver projects in a timely manner among other factors.

The Sound Transit Board recently adopted updated transit-oriented development policies to help grow transit ridership by promoting positive land uses and development within walking distance of its stations. Quality transit-oriented development helps create and emphasize vibrant walkable, active communities that are less dependent on driving.