SEATTLE—Construction will soon begin on a 321-residence multifamily building within Seattle's Little Saigon neighborhood. Demolition of the existing building has been completed, and construction on the soon-to-be-named apartment community will begin this month.

Located at 1029 South Jackson St. between South Jackson Street and 12th Avenue, the seven-story building will feature studio, one- and two-bedroom floorplans with stainless steel appliances, quartz counters, tile backsplash, in-home washer/dryer, plank flooring and large windows. An interest list is now forming for leasing opportunities that will launch in early 2021.

This project is a collaborative effort between Intracorp, local community groups and stakeholders including the Friends of Little Saigon, Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority. Together, the collaboration has created a design for the development that includes market rate and affordable rental housing. The marketplace will feature approximately 10,000 square feet of small- to medium-sized retail spaces that will become home to a wide array of Asian-inspired vendors and shops.

“In collaboration with community groups and stakeholders, including the Friends of Little Saigon and the Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority, a contemporary design was developed that integrates market rate and affordable rental housing with a pedestrian market retail passage connecting Jackson and King Streets,” Lis Soldano, vice president of development for Intracorp, tells GlobeSt.com. “The street-level retail experience is a vital and vibrant part of the community and was designed in direct response to community input.”

Designed by Tiscareno Associates, Nakano Associates and Object & Space, the development will be contemporary while preserving the cultural identity of Little Saigon. The team pulled inspiration from the Vietnamese culture to create a “wood, weave and greenery” aesthetic for the building complete with design features such as bamboo, woven textures and artist-inspired elements. The building will also be constructed to LEED Gold standards.

Residents will also have access to a variety of amenities including a two-story lobby, game room, fitness center and bicycle storage. The amenities will continue outdoors with a sky lounge with indoor and outdoor spaces with city views, a courtyard and direct access to the Seattle Streetcar Line.

Sitting east of Chinatown and located primarily along 12th Avenue and South Jackson Street, Little Saigon grew into a business area in the 1980s, following the influx of Vietnamese refugees to Seattle and other US areas after the fall of Saigon in 1975. In fact, approximately 70% of the businesses are owned by Vietnamese who migrated to the US as refugees, GlobeSt.com learns.

With more than 100 businesses, Little Saigon includes a variety of services ranging from hair/nail salons, jewelry stores, pho restaurants and grocery stores.

Instant Insights /

Community Collaboration Sparks Little Saigon Multifamily Project

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