Completed this year, the development earned a four-star Built Green certification while taking advantage of improved property close to public transit and bike trails, shopping, restaurants, and some of Seattle’s most popular parks. Families living in the development will be within walking distance of public, charter, and private schools. Habitat’s mission is to assure that everyone has a decent and affordable place to live. In Seattle and King County, Habitat is committed to balancing that mission with environmental concerns.

By acquiring the Capitol Hill property, Habitat assured that the development would be transit oriented. The multi-story condominium construction allows for affordable density on a relatively small footprint in a vital neighborhood. Habitat continually nurtures relationships with architects, manufacturers, and suppliers to reuse green designs and techniques that work, holding costs down for the future Homeowner.

For this project, Habitat was able to install hybrid heat pump water heaters and ductless electric space heating throughout the development, earning it high points for energy efficiency. The project mitigated 95% of the stormwater runoff from the roof and site to improve function and minimize local water and groundwater pollution. The units’ interior materials used low VOC paints and flooring materials as well as assuring proper ventilation for maximum interior air quality. The use of locally sourced and recycled-content materials and achieving a 90% landfill diversion rate of new construction waste helped to minimize the project’s environmental impact.

Qualifying homebuyers for the Capitol Hill condos must finance their purchase with a mortgage. Habitat helps to cover any portion of the projected purchase price not covered by the mortgage, cash down payment, or other down payment help. Habitat SKC inaugurated a black homeownership initiative (BHI) in 2022 in partnership with several Seattle civic organizations that includes a pilot debt remediation program to improve loan eligibility for BIPOC families to start building toward generational wealth. Eleven of the 13 available units on Capitol Hill are already purchased with 5 going to BIPOC homebuyers.

Habitat works with homebuyers to assure the mortgage payments do not exceed 35% of their gross income. Monthly payments for the one, two and three-bedroom Capitol Hill condos range from $1,050 to $2,500. Homebuyers also receive ongoing budget management training in free Habitat classes. Habitat’s formula for affordable homeownership includes sweat equity in the form of volunteer hours. Due to the complexity of the multi-story building, Capitol Hill homebuyers have donated their time to other projects as well as to supporting Habitat’s Re-Stores. Ultimately, the property will be placed in a land trust providing permanent affordability for future generations.

The combination of green construction, close transit, shopping, and schools with affordable homeownership make Habitat for Humanity’s Capitol Hill 11th Avenue condominium homes a formidable prototype for addressing the area’s housing crisis. Habitat, in partnership with GreenCanopy Node, will soon break ground on another project – 17 units in six stories just South of Capitol Hill --that is also planning to achieve a Built Green 4-Star certification.

Beyond these energy features, the building also has WaterSense-certified plumbing fixtures, drought-tolerant landscaping, and no grass on site for low water use. Health and indoor air quality were targeted by all low-VOC products and NAUF plywood for interior finishes.

Most of the units throughout the building are double-height lofts with a private bathroom, a built-in wardrobe, and a kitchenette equipped with a refrigerator, sink, and microwave. The floor-to-ceiling windows maximize daylight and the light and warm finishes make the space feel bigger and cozier. Many of the finishes used in the building were designed specifically for The Roost or custom built to fit into the space.

In addition to the building material and energy saving tools used, the building itself was designed to foster community and be part of the area’s growing art scene. With the large common area kitchen and meeting space on the main floor and the smaller common kitchens located on each floor, the building encourages an environment where spaces for socializing and chores are intertwined to maximize resident interactions.

The majority of the ground floor was reserved for an arts nonprofit that could provide cultural resources to the residents and the neighborhood. And that hope was realized! With the help of the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, The Roost is now the national headquarters for Amplifier, an organization that works with community and grassroots movements to create art that helps support social change and guide it towards equality, dignity, diversity, truth, and beauty.

Built Green Highlights

Site and Water

• All drought-tolerant landscaping and no grass on site
• Low-flow plumbing fixtures and toilets
• Light-colored hardscaping and roof
• Communal kitchens and commercial space in the building

Energy Efficiency

• 39.6% more energy efficient than code
• Fiberglass BIBS in exterior walls
• 0.189cfm/ft2 @ 75Pa blower door score
• Centralized solar thermal system for building-wide domestic hot water
• All lighting LED and Energy Star