Urban Trees

Activating the corner split-zone lot at E Yesler Way and 19th Ave are eleven homes and a “woonerf”, a common space to be shared by pedestrians and cars. It provides a treed place for owners to gather and access for cars. All residential entries for the live-work and traditional townhomes connect to this space, carved out of the center of the project. Decks at multiple floors look into the courtyard and woonerf and onto adjacent streets. Massing was studied to maximize natural light in the woonerf, courtyard and homes. Live work homes at Urban Trees allow a business owner to work on the ground floor, while maintaining a personal residence above. Each home provides a variety of square footages and floor plans, allowing for a variety of street level business to thrive while accommodating different family sizes above. We utilized sustainable technologies and sourced materials thoughtfully, creating “custom” work and living spaces affordably for speculative purposes. The site, partially vacant, housed a one-story vacant commercial building in disrepair. Providing viable businesses contributes to the neighborhood, adding to the project’s community. The corner business is to be a restaurant / bar and helps to establish a relationship to the neighborhood bringing people on foot, bicycle and transit to the project. A bus stop directly in front provides easy access and connects the commercial uses to activity on the street. The residential building has minimal setbacks, to transition from the commercial building at the corner creating the space for the courtyard and woonerf. Diagonally across the street is Edwin T Pratt Park, a large and accessible green space.