A large live/work apartment project at 5601 20th Ave NW that began seven years ago in 2013 took one step closer to happening as a land use application was filed with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections to allow a 7-story, 47-unit apartment building with 4 live-work units. Parking for 25 vehicles is proposed. The existing building will be demolished. Back in 2013 it was meant to be a 6-story, 35-unit residential building with 3 live-work units (3,206 sq. ft.) and retail (1,884 sq. ft.) at street level with parking for 34 vehicles. A design guidance review meeting on the project for May 1 was cancelled.

Called Saltworks by InHaus Development the project's 2013 Design Guidance Proposal notes this:

development objective

The intent of this project is to create an incubator for the next generation of creative people in Ballard. The ground floor units will all be live/ work, with good connections to the street. The upper levels, identified as residential, will also be flexible, durable, easy to modify spaces that lend themselves to creative industry and joyful labor.

Exposed structure, ductwork and services; simple, low maintenance systems; daylight, natural ventilation, good security and sound insulation, and quality green construction complete the picture.

site concept and green strategies

While there is no green on the site right now, the location has enormous potential. Wide open southeast exposure, views in every direction from the higher floors, great access to breezes and daylight mean that wise use of solar shading, clerestory windows, and other techniques to pull daylight and breezes into the core of the building will succeed.

Strategies to take advantage of existing wind and weather patterns include:

carving out the southwest corner of the building to gain light and access to breezes

collecting and using sunlight, especially from the SE corner

providing a route through the building for cross-ventilation

providing operable windows to bring fresh air into the core

using stairways for stack effect venting and as daylight chases to lower floors

using clerestories to bring light into core spaces

Landscape strategies to give access to green for residents and to meet Green Factor requirements include:

common garden at the second floor level including shared garden space, possibly vegetable garden planters

rooftop patio with more garden space

green roof for stormwater management and wildlife support

street trees to complement new trees at library and Greenfire

Green construction concepts include:

targeting 4 star built green

energy efficient appliances, systems, fixtures

in- unit energy usage monitoring & management options

dynamic controls such as nest thermostats

switching designed to minimize phantom loads

operable windows and passive comfort strategies

solar shading, possibly using photovoltaic panels as shades

 

conclusions

This project is intended to celebrate Ballard, to build on its history and expand on the energy of the new era in this community.

Situated at the southeast corner of the same block that hosts the Ballard Library at its southwest and Greenfire next door to that, Saltworks has the opportunity and responsibility to complete a block of exceptional urban design.

To this astonishing existing context, we will add:

- smaller, more affordable units to the mix on the block

- a genuine live/ work environment where projects and people mix with joy

- a strong corner where one is desperately needed

- new larger scale structures to continue to move the neighborhood toward a more fully built out streetscape

- a modest extension of the rooftop ecosystem started by the library

- a building that enhances the already bike and pedestrian friendly qualities of the neighborhood.

All schemes are code compliant and none require any departures.

More records on the project can be found here.