A Seahawk and Amazon are building a 7-story affordable apartment building on Capitol Hill

A design rendering from the 2021 public design review process for the project

A Capitol Hill development plan on ice since 2021 is ready to break ground as an affordable project backed by a development team that pairs “Super Bowl champion and former Seattle Seahawk” Cliff Avril and Amazon.

The Pointe at Thomas development will rise seven stories on land at 11th and Thomas currently home to a 1963-built, nine-unit apartment building.

The renewed 67-unit project is now moving forward under C&A Development, a joint venture from Avril’s CA Family Properties and the Cohen Properties investment firm.

According to the announcement, the Pointe units will be available to households earning between 40% and 80% of Area Median Income, $46,000 to $92,000 for a one-person household. Under the Amazon funding and affordable program, the units will be under covenant to remain affordable for 99 years.

The project had been stalled by the pandemic development slowdown. CHS reported on early planning for the development as part of a ripple of activity north of Cal Anderson being planned in early 2022. Most of that has remained on hold.

Designed by b9 Architects, the 11th Ave E project has had most of its construction permits in place for years now for “a highly sustainable building” that prioritizes “the building envelope to reduce the building’s ecological footprint.”

Amazon’s fund provided $6.7 million in low-cost capital and below-market financing. In addition to Amazon’s private fund, the development received public support via a pre-development grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce, which reimbursed early planning and design expenses. The construction financing of $11.4 million is being provided by the Seattle Credit Union.

The developers are also reflecting Seattle’s community preference efforts, partnering with the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic. The development will offer OBCC “employees, patients, and patients family members” first notice of unit availability, according to the announcement.

“We believe the people who power this city – teachers, health care workers, and everyday professionals deserve the opportunity to live in the communities they help sustain,” Avril is quoted as saying in the announcement.

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