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Design review: With ‘Aperture’ concept, plan for new Photographic Center Northwest building on 12th Ave includes 171 apartments

The public design process to create a new home for arts nonprofit Photographic Center Northwest in a new seven-story mixed-use development on the site of the center’s 100-year-old 12th Ave building begins this week.

The Central Area Design Review Board is set to take up the first design proposals for the Focus on 12th Apartments development Thursday night. Plans call for 171 apartment units above the new photography center and underground parking for around 42 vehicles.


Design review: 900 12th Ave
Design Review Early Design Guidance for a 7-story, 171-unit apartment building with institution (Photographic Center Northwest) and retail. Parking for 42 vehicles proposed. View Design Proposal  (26 MB)    

Review Meeting
September 22, 2022 5:00 PM

Meeting: https://bit.ly/Mtg3039185

Listen Line: 206-207-1700 Passcode: 2484 459 1770
Comment Sign Up: https://bit.ly/Comment3039185
Review Phase: EDG–Early Design Guidance  See All Reviews
Project Number: 3039185  View Related Records
Planner: David Sachs

Developer Vibrant Cities told CHS earlier this year it expects the new building to offer market rate housing along with Seattle Mandatory Housing Affordability and Multifamily Tax Exemption factors that could add a few affordable units to the mix. There is also a possibility of working with nearby Seattle University to offer school-affiliated housing.

CHS reported here on PCNW’s bid to be a property owner and an “arts anchor” on 12th Ave with the new project. The new space for the photographic center will eventually fill the ground floor of the building with a redesigned, more modern facility and a space the center hopes will become a community asset and center of photography related arts activity for the neighborhood and surrounding communities.

At Thursday’s design review meeting, representatives from PCNW, Vibrant Cities, and architect Link Design Group will present photography-inspired design concepts for the property they say presents special challenges due to its relatively narrow width and depth and required setbacks due to utility lines. The developers say “The Aperture” concept is their preferred design with a “contemporary” layout that will help make sure the building “responds better to newer and future projects in the neighbourhood,” and  “highlights” the building’s corners and entries while simplifying the project’s basic massing and leaving space for a “public terrace” on the building’s southeast corner.

The project will demolish the nearly 100-year-old, two-story masonry building PCNW has called home since A.K. Shethar and the organization acquired the property from Shephard Ambulance — the company that would become private ambulance provider AMR — for $605,000 in 1996. The center’s history goes back further to its founding in the 1980s before Shethar purchased the organization, renamed it, and set it on its course with moves from downtown, and then Green Lake, to Capitol Hill.

“The transformed building will continue to support the mission and vision of the Center as the art anchor of the community,” the developers say.

There is also an “exceptional tree” on 13th Ave that will need to be approved to be cleared to make way for the project.

Vibrant Cities is increasingly busy around Central Seattle. CHS reported here on its long-planned development on lower Pine that is finally nearing the end of construction after pandemic delays. Vibrant Cities also pitched in some help to guide this deal putting the property home to Captain Black’s and the Stumbling Monk into the hands of the business owners.

Development plans on 12th Ave, meanwhile, continue at a steady pace thanks to ongoing education facilities investment by private school Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences and nearby Seattle University.

 

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9 Comments
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genevieve
genevieve
1 year ago

Other than clearing the exceptional tree (why bother designating if they just keep getting removed?) I really like the Aperture design, and love the focus on anchoring the building with an arts organization. And even though I don’t care about parking, adding 42 spaces is a plus in this area.

d.c.
d.c.
1 year ago

I doubt it will be beautiful but glad they’re making good use of the space. PCNW is great and I hope its ambitions are realized in the new building, I’d love to get back in the darkroom. Too bad about the old trees (they look lovely) but there will be 8 or so new ones to offset them.

joanna
joanna
1 year ago
Reply to  d.c.

New trees never really offset the clean air advantage that older mature trees offer and cooling impact in the neighborhood.

joanna
joanna
1 year ago
Reply to  joanna

I need to add that mature trees are homes to birds in ways that new trees are not.

d4l3d
d4l3d
1 year ago

Unlikely to house photographers.

Charles Burlingame
Charles Burlingame
1 year ago
Reply to  d4l3d

How many photographers does the current building house?

btwn
btwn
1 year ago

Excited the PCNW is sticking around and will have a good long term home. Such a great organization.

joanna
joanna
1 year ago

I admit to feeling sad that they could not reinforce and save the current façade, which is likely much more interesting and beautiful than the new one will be and about the loss of the mature trees and the exceptional one. The architecture and appearance of the city and neighborhood impact our mental outlook and general mood.

Paul
Paul
1 year ago

I love the people pretending to be “progressive” or leftwing who are just shills for developers and government seeking higher property values under the guise of “density” or some urbanism bull$#it.