Jewish Family Service has announced plans to build a new 19,000 square foot expansion building on the parking lot adjacent to their current offices at 1601 16th Ave.  Designed by Weistein A|U,  the new three-story structure will have ground level parking and two levels of office and assembly space above. JFS hopes to receive LEED Silver for the project.

Founded in 1892, JFS provides essential human services throughout the Puget Sound region with a diverse range of programs including addiction counseling, refugee assistance, and food bank services. Even before the economic downturn JFS was continuing to increase its client base and in 2009 it served over 11,000 people from its small offices in the Jessie Danz Building. Plans to expand were initially released in 2007 but as the recession took hold, construction was delayed and the size of the building was scaled back. The new design was released earlier this month and JFS hopes to begin construction in late 2010. Design review for the building is tentatively scheduled for March 3, 2010.

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Last August, JFS received a significant boost in their capital needs with an award of $500,000 in federal stimulus dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The money will go to increasing storage and delivery capacity at their Morris Polack Food Bank, something that has been sorely needed as the demand for food services increases. The renovation work began in October and should be completed in early March.