It was only a matter of time until it hit Ballard. Micro-apartments -- aka, “aPodments” -- are on their way.
Already a superheated discussion on Capitol Hill, the now notorious aPodment debate may be brewing in Ballard.
Some view aPodments as a creative way to fill demand for affordable housing, as they squeeze a lot of people into little space and provide shared kitchens. Other residents have been concerned about parking, traffic and a different demographic being introduced.
On 15th Ave NW and NW 52nd St, by the Brown Bear Car Wash, a single-family residence is being knocked down to make way for the microapartment unit -- a 49-bedroom congregate residence with three shared kitchens. Each of the bedrooms range from 160 sq. ft. to 220 sq. ft. No parking will be provided.
The aPodments are being designed by the same architect firm -- ecco design inc. -- who did the Videre Capitol Hill Townhomes, a six-unit townhome project that houses 46 residents.
The developer did not respond to requests for comment.
One resident who lives nearby the proposed Ballard location, Heidi Hum, said she is concerned about the loopholes that developers are taking advantage of to go through the process without any required design review meetings.
Hum also notes that the street already has a high volume of traffic, with cars coming in from 15th and from the Brown Bear Carwash. As for herself, she is concerned about the effects on her house.
“Our home and the two homes next to it have only west-facing windows, and this structure will destroy our territorial view, eliminate privacy and natural light, and hinder the growth of our patio and deck gardens,” Hum said.
But without a meeting, she is unable to address these concerns.
Ethan Van Eck of the Central Ballard Residents Association said the group has concerns about the loopholes, but as of right now they are not taking any position against the specific project. they hope to have a speaker at their next couple of meetings to learn more.
At The Stranger, News Editor Dominic Holden has been advocating for aPodments, saying that they provide a real need where costs for normal apartments have sky rocketed.
He writes, “Affordable housing is virtually nonexistent. In the past five years, the monthly rental rates for studios have increased 15 percent and one-bedroom apartments have increased 21 percent, according to real-estate economist Matthew Gardner. The price of an average studio apartment in Seattle last month hit $991, and one-bedrooms soared to $1,230, according to the real-estate tracking firm Dupre + Scott. In this environment, microhousing is in high demand.”
The Ballard News-Tribune will keep tracking this issue as it develops.
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