Featured Projects

Plaza Roberto Maestas

El Centro de la Raza

Address: 2602 16th Ave S, Seattle, WA
Completion Date: 2016
Program: 112 apartments and 25,000 square feet of commercial space
Funding Sources: City of Seattle Office of Housing and Human Services Department, WA State HTF, WSHFC 9% LIHTC (US Bank CDC), Construction Loan (US Bank), Capital Campaign, Office Condominium Sale, Permanent Bank Debt (WCRA)
Population Served: Low-income families up to 30%, 50% and 60% AMI
Total Budget: $45,000,000
Green Certification: Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard
Contractor: Walsh Construction Co.
Architect: SMR Architects with 7 Directions Architects & Third Place Design Cooperative

Plaza Roberto Maestas is a community-inspired transit oriented development project in the heart of the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle, directly adjacent to the Beacon Hill Light Rail Station and the El Centro de la Raza schoolhouse building. Based on the North Beacon Hill Neighborhood Plan, the project is oriented around a central plaza that will provide generous and safe outdoor space for both residents and the surrounding neighborhood. Plaza Roberto Maestas will predominantly serve families with majority two- and three-bedroom apartments. On the ground floors of the new community will be a 7-classroom expansion of El Centro's nationally accredited Jose Marti Child Development Center, 3,200 square feet of neighborhood retail/restaurant space, and a 6,000 square foot multicultural community center that will have a commercial kitchen for event and community use. Above the community center in the east building will be 4,000 square feet of office space. Plaza Roberto Maestas achieves the regional vision of "equitable development" at an urban village transit station while building the long-term capacity of El Centro de la Raza through strategic asset building and real estate development.

Awards: AIA/HUD Secretary’s Housing and Community Design Award for Creating Community Connections, 2017; Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition’s Charles L. Edson Tax Credit Excellence Awards: Honorable Mention in the Metropolitan/Urban category, 2017; Puget Sound Regional Council’s Vision 2040 Award; PCBC’s Golden Nugget Awards Award for Merit in Affordable Housing, 2017; Futurewise Livable Community Award for Equity & Environment, 2013; PSRC Vision 2040.