Issue link: http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/i/1127356
the project less risky, this approach helped them achieve the goal of creating an energy-efficient building with a communal character, plentiful sunlight, and ample airflow Not including on- or off-street parking for the building was a riskier decision Maschmedt reasoned that the walkability of the neighborhood and proximity to bus lines and light rail would make cars unnecessary "Why would you want a car when you can walk right out the door? Seattle is growing up It's a big city now People don't like traffic " But it still made him anxious He even considered a discount to entice drivers to give up their parking spots In the end, Maschmedt's worries proved unfounded Dwell started accepting tenant applications in October 2018, a conventionally slow time for rentals, and by January every unit was occupied They were thrilled by the response but ultimately unsurprised The demand for high-quality affordable housing is soaring and NOCO Flats offers rents ranging from $900 to $1,225 per month with no hot water bills Dwell started accepting tenant applications in October 2018, a conventionally slow time for rentals, and by January every unit was occupied. Maschmedt was initially drawn to Columbia City for the NOCO project after living and building several homes there There was "real need for sustainable and affordable housing" and he felt that "the project was a great opportunity to venture into property ownership " Even more compelling was the opportunity to build cutting-edge, sustainable multifamily housing on a large scale NOCO Flats was an expensive and challenging experiment that paid off Maschmedt hopes that it will lead to lower-cost projects in the future that will meet the same high standards "Our goal is to do one every other year, smaller, maybe 20-25 units, green and hip " Maschmedt has no interest in building big generic boxes He wants to create "little sustainable unicorns " GROWING UP Multifamily projects like these aren't just practical silos for inexpensively storing people, but desirable places that add color and vibrancy to their surrounding communities—places where people want to live We need more of them, a lot more, to ensure that the Puget Sound region continues to prosper without sacrificing our tremendous quality of life The tide is turning Zoning laws are changing, serious condo reform has arrived, and single-family builders are wading deeper into multifamily projects MBAKS has championed homebuilders for 110 years and we've watched our communities grow out Here's to another 110 years of watching our communities grow up PHOTO: TRUE ONE GROUP LLC Gathering space at Jade Condominiums offers luxury at scale. NOCO Flats is located in south Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood near amenities, nightlife, and transit options. 18 master builder SUMMER 2019