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.