The Metropolitan King County Council set the wheels in motion for a transit-oriented housing development that will allow people to become less dependent on cars.

The council vote yesterday authorizes the county executive to lease the existing Overlake Park and Ride lot to the King County Housing Authority (KCHA). Working with a private developer, the KCHA will build 300 units of affordable housing as part of a redesigned transit center.

The project goals are to increase transit use in the heart of the Eastside’s high-tech employment center, and provide more housing options for low-income families. The Overlake Park and Ride lot is located at the intersection of 152^nd Avenue Northeast and Northeast 24^th Street, near the Microsoft campus.

"This project will enhance transit use and pedestrian activity in the congested Overlake area," said Councilmember Jane Hague, who represents the area on the county council. "It is a good team effort involving King County, the city of Redmond, KCHA and the private sector."

The project includes:

• A two-level parking garage with approximately 540 stalls;
• 300 new apartments located above the parking area; and
• A 2,400-square-foot childcare facility.

"These apartments will be affordable to households earning 60 percent of the median county income, which will help us achieve our countywide housing goals," said Councilmember Cynthia Sullivan, chair of the Housing and Planning Policy Committee. "Also, 30 of the units are designed to be barrier free for disabled renters who will have ready access to transit services."

Councilmember Rob McKenna, chair of the Transportation Committee, said the county’s investment in accessible housing units is expected to pay for itself over time since residents will be able to use regular bus service at the park and ride rather than the more expensive Access service. Bus passes will be provided to each unit for the first two years of occupancy, with the costs shared by the county’s Department of Transportation and the developer. The 50-year lease also includes a parking management plan that ensures at least 150 stalls are available to commuters in the morning

"This is the first project in the nation to combine housing with metropolitan bus service," said McKenna. "Overall, it appears to provide transportation benefits that exceed the costs to the county."

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