Terry Care Group, an entity related to Columbia Pacific Advisors, presented its proposal for a 24-story senior independent living building located in First Hill to the city’s design review board on Wednesday. During the early design guidance meeting, the board approved the project to move forward into the next phase of the design review process.
The project, located at 620 Terry Avenue, will provide 243 senior residential units, along with three stories of underground parking for 191 vehicles. Additional amenities include an event space, a cafe and a plaza that integrates with Terry Avenue, a designated city “green street.”
“t’s a great spot for people watching and activation.”
“The public is invited in on the corner of Terry Avenue and Cherry Street,” said Jennifer Sobieraj Sanin, the managing principal for Ankrom Moisan Architects, Inc. “The lounge will include a coffee shop that is not just for the residents. We want to have that interaction with the public, especially right across the street from the Frye Art Museum entry. It’s a great spot for people watching and activation.”
Buildings nearby the site also include the Swedish Medical Campus, First Hill Medical Building, historic Old Colony Condos, St. James Cathedral and three proposed sites for additional residential projects. Several representatives of these properties voiced their support at Wednesday’s meeting.
“We’re involved in the project and are happy with what we’ve seen so far,” said Larry Brouse, a pastoral assistant for administration for St. James Cathedral. “We like the concept of what it’s for, particularly the aspect of activating the street. We think it’s very compatible, not only with the immediate neighbors, but with the efforts that property owners along Terry are working together on about having some innovative uses of the green street.”
Other members of the public expressed the need for this type of facility in First Hill. According to a report by the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle and King County, the county’s total population is 2,044,449, and nearly 18 percent are aged 60 or older. The fastest growing segment of the county’s population is those aged 85 and over. By the year 2040, the percent of seniors in King County is projected to increase to nearly 25 percent. Increased life expectancy will strengthen the wave of aging baby boomers and will steadily increase their total numbers, according to the same report.
