Compass Center to start construction this year

Posted by Geeky Swedes on January 21st, 2010

The Compass Center, which bought and tore down the house at 1753 NW 56th St (shown below), is expected to start construction on a new facility for homeless men and women this year.

We spoke with Executive Director, Rick Friedhoff, who tells us that Weinstein A|U is currently drawing up the designs for the 80-unit complex. Once the design is approved and a building permit is imminent, which they’re hoping to happen around August, they’ll open the project up to bid. Because the cost of construction has come down, the estimated price tag is $15.7 million, down more than $1 million from a year ago. “You can build more building for the same amount of money than you could a year ago,” Friedhoff says.

Construction is expected to start in October, which isn’t the best time of year to get going on a project, “it’s a function of the financing” Friedhoff tells us.

Once built, the seven-story building will be staffed 24-hours a day by Compass, they will provide on-site case management, and the Reach Team from Evergreen Treatment Services will offer counseling and supportive services, according to the Daily Journal of Commerce (registration required.)

There is an early design guidance meeting scheduled for Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Ballard High School library.

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facesofseattle

I am a freelance journalist who is currently working on a documentary about homelessness in Seattle; specifically the Ballard/Green Lake area. I am very interested in what you think about the homeless and the street camping population. Please contact me at facesofseattle@gmail.com to voice your opinions and concerns.

Mondoman

I'm confused - this was originally pitched as a transitional facility for homeless *women*. Is there an error in the story's characterization of the project, or is this mission creep in action?

NoraBell

Originally, it was going to be just for women. I don't remember why they changed that.
But, really, what's the difference?

tiktok

For some reason, many people worry more about being attacked or raped by a homeless man than a homeless woman.

atworkcat

For me, someone that lives on the same block as this proposed building, my concern has more to do with the drama and noise and such that goes on with a facility for both men and women. If it were families, women only, or men only, I'd be less concerned. But we already have enough trouble with drunks getting into screaming relationship fights in the middle of the night on our block, we don't need the hub to be right in the middle.

SPG

As the regulars around here probably know, I'm no fan of the bums* but I have no problem with this center opening. If this place can keep some of the homeless from becoming bums and possibly help some bums rehabilitate themselves, then great.

*Though most bums are homeless, not all homeless are bums and it's a good thing when we can keep some homeless from becoming bums.

gmer

I wonder if evergreen treatment services will be dosing their methadone patients from this location.

sarah68

A new LIHI building, McDermott Place, staffed by Sound Mental Health which will provid all needed services, has opened in my neighborhood of Lake City. Among the first tenants are 9 homeless Lake City residents. This is good for those people, some of whom have been homeless for years, and for my community.

Idle Activist

I have no problem with this place (probably because it's not near my home).

Remember, these are the true homeless, not the bums you see on the streets of Ballard or who take over churches with zero accountability. Big difference.