Daily Journal of Commerce: Wednesday, September 14, 2005

CONSTRUCTION

Harrison House gets $3.9M makeover

Harrison House, a low-income senior apartment complex in Kent, just got a $3.9 million makeover thanks to a partnership between the city, King County Housing Authority and the National Equity Fund.

In 1991, the city built the 94-unit Harrison House and turned it over to the Housing Authority to operate. But, the building's stucco exterior had begun to fail by 2002, creating an expensive challenge: How do you pay for a new exterior without cutting services or making the complex too expensive for its fixed-income residents?

The solution was to bring in the nonprofit National Equity Fund, which committed investment dollars under the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Renovations were performed by W.G. Clark Construction to the exterior and interior of the building at 615 W. Harrison St. Siding, balconies, windows and decks all had to be replaced due to extensive dry rot caused by the faulty stucco finish. A new roof was also required.

Inside, common areas were redecorated, and apartments got refurbished kitchens, new vinyl flooring and carpeting and a fresh coat of paint.

GGLO Architects was the project architect and interior designer. Paul Lukes designed the building's exterior.

The Housing Authority last Friday held an open house for the project.