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Sound Transit opens first transit-oriented development project

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Korean Women's Association's senior housing facility to open at Federal Way Transit Center

Tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at the Federal Way Transit Center, Sound Transit will mark the opening of its first public-private transit-oriented development partnership during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Korean Women's Association's Senior City housing facility.

The mixed-use facility, located at 31621 23rd Ave S., provides rental housing for 61 low-income residents, a residential unit for an onsite manager, and 3,125 square feet of office space for the organization.

Transit-oriented development partnerships support transit use by emphasizing pedestrian and transit access to mixed-use development clustered at and around transit stations. TODs lead to vibrant, sustainable communities by:

• Aiding economic development
• Improving mobility and decreasing dependence on cars and other vehicles
• Preserving open space, natural resources and the environment

Three years ago, Sound Transit sold a portion of the land it acquired for construction of its Federal Way Transit Center to KWA through a competitive application process. It also granted KWA $25,000 in pre-development monies to assist in securing funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the King County Housing Program, the City of Federal Way Community Development Block Grant Program, and other agencies to design and construct the $18 million facility.

"The Korean Women's Association's Senior City represents the ideal in TOD partnerships," said Sound Transit board member and King County Councilman Pete von Reichbauer. "Throughout the project's development, Sound Transit staff advised KWA contractors on the design of an attractive, accessible, eco-friendly facility that will serve as an outstanding model for future TOD projects. We value our collaboration with the KWA and look forward to serving its residents, clients and staff for years to come."

Sound Transit's policy to link land use with transit planning, design and implementation dates back to 1996, when the agency adopted the Sound Move Regional Transit System Plan. Sound Transit works closely with jurisdictions throughout the region to promote land uses around transit facilities that encourage people to ride transit and rely less on automobiles. The agency's commitment to TOD was reiterated when voters approved Sound Transit 2 in 2008.

Sound Transit's collaboration with the Korean Women's Association is the first in a series of planned TOD projects. The duo-tone, concrete and corrugated metal structure was designed to complement the Federal Way Transit Center, and is in accordance with Enterprise Communities Green Communities criteria and the State of Washington Evergreen Standard.