In the last decade numerous developers have tried and failed to place housing on this neighborhood site near Starkweather Creek. All gave up for various reasons, not the least of which are the difficulties associated with building immediately adjacent to a wetland. And recently the regulations protecting wetlands in this area have become even more stringent.
Mike Seversin however has a personal interest. His family has
owned the service station next door for many years. It's a real
neighborhood service station, with three busy repair bays. Mike
wants to add a 20-unit apartment building alongside a small carwash
annex. He's taken on the lengthy challenge of gaining approvals
from the many governing bodies that regulate the site. In the
process the project has won over a vigilant neighborhood association
and the Friends of Starkweather Creek, who've called it a model
for how development near wetlands should be done.
The bulk of the 20 unit building is scaled down by placing only two stories on the street, with entry stoops onto the sidewalk. A stepped-back third story in the rear provides more units with fine views of the wetlands and park beyond. The site design features several stormwater runoff strategies, designed by Schreiber-Anderson & Associates, to protect the wetland.
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