| October 22, 2003
News Release SEATTLE - King County Executive Ron Sims and Mayor Greg Nickels led a group of community, private sector and government partners to break ground today on the site of the future Rainier Court Senior Apartments in the 3500-3700 block of Rainier Avenue South. "This is a great example of our work to create jobs and build community," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "Investing in this project revitalizes an under-utilized property, provides much needed affordable housing for seniors in the Rainier Valley, and creates approximately 150 construction jobs and 25 - 50 permanent jobs. Together, we are making a difference in people's lives." The City, through the Office of Economic Development, has provided over $2.5 million for site acquisition for Phase I, and will continue to support SEED (SouthEast Effective Development) with $5.7 million through the Office of Economic Development and $1 million in Office of Housing funds for later phases of the project. Phase I will redevelop 1.3 acres of the seven-acre site into 208 units of much needed low- and moderate-income senior housing and 9,000 square feet of new ground-floor commercial space. "King County is proud to be a partner in this effort to turn what was an unusable piece of property into a development that meets the needs of the community," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "This is a perfect example of how the brownfields program works to take unused or contaminated land and clean it up and develop it to help revitalize a community." King County, as the administrator of the Brownfields Programs, brought the full impact of that program's resources to bear on the Rainier Court project to assess environmental conditions and assist with cleanup of the site. "A partnership of government entities, organizations, private developers and community leaders emerged to make the Rainier Court Senior Apartments a reality," said Earl Richardson, Executive Director of SEED. "SEED's mission is to provide affordable housing and services to the neighborhoods of southeast Seattle, and this project helps realize a part of our ongoing dream." Through its Brownfields program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency thus far has contributed nearly $1 million for clean-up grants and loans for the Rainier Court project. The Brownfields program helps communities prevent, assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse properties whose redevelopment may be complicated by the presence of pollution. EPA's Brownfields Program has given out over $250 million in grants which have leveraged more than $4.6 Billion in public and private investment around the country. "EPA's fundamental mission is to protect the environment and, where it's been harmed, return it to productive use," said EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Ron Kreizenbeck. "That's what this project is all about – creating new, clean habitat for people." "As manager of the State's Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund, CTED is thrilled to provide funds for this project," said Wendy Holden, Deputy Director of the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. "We believe the Rainier Court Project will be a catalyst for bringing additional economic opportunities to Rainier Valley." Demolition of existing buildings and preparing the site for construction will begin immediately. Rainier Court Senior Housing is the first phase of a four phase development, which will also include multi-family housing, townhouses and commercial space when it is completed. The senior housing phase of the project should be completed and ready for occupancy in the fourth quarter of next year. "There is a great need for affordable housing for seniors in Southeast Seattle that is not being met by existing facilities," said Arthur Martin, Executive Director of Senior Housing Assistance Group (SHAG), who will operate the project once completed. "The Rainier Court Senior Apartments complex will allow SHAG to meet that need for safe, secure and affordable housing for seniors in this community." For more information, please visit the Mayor's Web site or the King County Executive's Web site. Related Information |
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