Homestead opens Phinney Ridge Nest

Homestead Community Land Trust (HCLT) celebrated the opening of Nest at 6109 Phinney Ave. N. with a VIP-loaded ribbon cutting last month. According to Homestead's LinkedIn posts, special guests included Governor Bob Ferguson, state Sen. Jessica Garcia-Ortiz (who is also a Homestead homeowner and board member), and Nicole Vallestrero (Keenan) Soper, director of policy and innovation for Mayor Katie B. Wilson.

Sitting atop Phinney Ridge, Nest is a five-story mixed-use building with 30 condominium homes, 19 of which are permanently affordable with an 80% AMI cap. Eleven of the homes are market-rate.

Nest was built on surplus land distributed by the city of Seattle and an adjacent parcel purchased by Homestead Community Land Trust.

The building was designed by Side X Side Architects. Edge Community Builders was the general contractor.

All homes are part of the same homeowners association. The affordable units will be stewarded into the future by Homestead. Under Homestead's model, the organization owns the land and leases it to the homeowners, who accrue equity at a rate of 1.5% compounded annually. Homeowners are members of Homestead and participate in its governance.

Homestead opened a sister building to Nest, Woodland View, at 5819 Phinney Ave. N. in March as the DJC then reported. Woodland View has 25 condominium homes. Of those, six are market-rate and 19 are affordable to households earning up to 80% of area median income. Woodland View was designed by Schemata Workshop. Edge Community Builders was the general contractor.

Architect wanted for landmarks board

Mayor Katie B. Wilson is seeking an architect or landscape architect to serve on the city of Seattle's Landmarks Preservation Board for a three-year term.

The 12-member board makes recommendations to the city council for landmark designating ordinances and reviews proposed alterations to designated features of landmark properties.

The board is composed of two architects; two historians; one structural engineer; one representative each from the fields of urban planning, real estate, and finance; a Get Engaged member (a position for people aged 18-29); and three at-large members.

Board meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 3:30 p.m. In general, board members must commit approximately 10 hours per month to landmarks board business. Interested applicants must be Seattle area residents. Board members serve without compensation.

If you are interested in being considered, please submit a letter of interest and a resume by July 13 to Erin.Doherty@seattle.gov (reference the Landmarks Preservation Board position in the subject line).

TerraFirma plants roots near Olympia

Having served homeowners throughout the northwest since its founding in Roseburg, Oregon in 2005, TerraFirma now has a permanent office near Olympia. The firm provides foundation and crawl space repair, as well as earthquake retrofitting, wall stabilization, and other residential structural services.

The new office is located at 819 78th Ave S.E. in Tumwater. It replaces a Lakewood satellite office. “We are hiring locally, putting Olympia residents to work, and building something here for the long haul. TerraFirma is proud to plant roots and build a safe, dry, and stable future alongside this community,” Amanda Jones, vice president of TerraFirma, said. TerraFirma currently employs over 175 professionals at its existing offices in Roseburg, Portland and Vancouver, Clark County. About 25% of the firm's workforce is based in Washington.

Summer camp centers architecture and design

This summer, young creators in Seattle will have the opportunity to explore art, design, architecture, engineering, and creative problem-solving through a new hands-on STEAM summer camp at Hiawatha Community Center in West Seattle.

“The Art & Design Lab: STEAM Summer Camp,” runs July 13–17. It is led by veteran art teacher Nicole Bajaj and architect/product designer Shea Bajaj. The camp combines artistic exploration with collaborative design challenges and introduces students ages 7–12 to design thinking — a creative problem-solving process used by artists, engineers, architects, and innovators.

Throughout the five-day camp, students will sketch, paint, sculpt, build structures, experiment with mixed-media art, and tackle imaginative design challenges using simple materials like paper, tape, and recycled supplies.

“Our goal is to help students build confidence in their creativity while having a genuinely fun and hands-on experience,” said Nicole Bajaj. “We want kids to feel excited to experiment, explore ideas, and express themselves.”

The camp blends traditional artmaking with real-world design concepts, encouraging students to think creatively, collaborate with others, and turn their ideas into tangible creations.

“Creative thinking and design skills are becoming increasingly important in today's world,” said Shea Bajaj. “We want students to experience how art, design, engineering, and imagination all connect.”

For additional information or registration details, contact Bajaj at sb@sheabajaj.com.

Applications open for CityArtist grants

Seattle has opened applications for its 2027 CityArtist grants. The grant program supports Seattle-based individual artists/curators in the research, development and presentation of creative work.

This program is open to specific discipline clusters in alternate years. This year's application is open to artists and curators working in dance, music and theater (including playwriting).

The application deadline is 5 p.m. on July 14.

Awards are set at a single amount of $8,000 for all recipients. Awarded artists will need to offer a public presentation of their work within Seattle city limits in fall 2028.

The city is hosting a virtual information session on the program and application process on June 15. More information and application here: https://www.seattle.gov/arts/programs/grants/cityartist-grant

SDA event covers employee benefits

SDA Pacific Northwest Chapter is hosting “Employee Benefits Playbook: Strategies for Smarter Decision” on July 14.

The virtual event will take place on Zoom from noon to 1 p.m.

This session is ideal for SDA members and AEC professionals who help make, manage, or support employee benefits decisions.

Clint Merriman, senior employee benefits advisor with Trucordia, will lead an approachable, practical conversation about how employers can take a more strategic look at their benefits program.

Merriman has nearly 30 years of experience helping employers attract and retain talent — including 17 years focused specifically on employee benefits. He works with employers ranging from 3 to 300 employees, helping them understand the insurance landscape, evaluate their options, and make benefits decisions that support people, operations, and long-term business goals.

From reviewing renewals, trying to stay competitive in hiring, or looking for a clearer understanding of employee benefits strategy, this session aims to provide practical takeaways you can bring back to your team. The event is free for SDA PNW members, $10 for SDA members of other chapters and $20 for non-members.

To register or for more information, contact SDA at sdapacificnorthwest@gmail.com, or visit https://sdapnw.org/event/employee-benefits-playbook/

A new milestone for Redmond Public Works

The city of Redmond's Public Works Department has been awarded full accreditation from the American Public Works Association (APWA). This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that the agency is in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA's Public Works Management Practices Manual.

The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence in the operation and management of a public works agency, its programs, and its employees. Accreditation is also designed to assist the agency in the continuous improvement of operations and management, and in providing a valid and objective evaluation of agency programs as a service to the public and the profession.

APWA's accreditation process includes five major steps: self-assessment, application, improvement, evaluation and accreditation.

“Achieving full accreditation from the APWA is a meaningful accomplishment for Redmond,” Redmond Mayor Angela Birney shared in a press release. “It is a testament to the dedication of not only our Public Works Department, but of staff across the city – all of whom worked diligently for this result. Accreditation reinforces our commitment to providing the community high-quality, well-managed services.”

Initial accreditation from APWA occurs over a four-year period, during which time semi-annual updates are required to demonstrate continuing compliance. After that time, there is a re-accreditation process that builds on the original accreditation, encouraging continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified practices.

Redmond joins 12 other accredited public works agencies in Washington, including the cities of Bainbridge Island, Bellevue's Departments of Transportation and Utilities, Bothell, Lake Stevens, and Kitsap County.

ASLA elevates Jason Henry to fellows council

Jason Henry, principal at Seattle landscape architecture firm Berger Partnership, has been elected by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) to its 2026 Council of Fellows.

ASLA fellows are recognized for exceptional contributions to the landscape architecture profession and society at large. Election to the Council of Fellows is among the highest honors ASLA bestows on members, and is based on project work, leadership, knowledge and service.

Over three decades of practice, Henry has helped shape a body of work centered on urban ecology, public space, and strengthening connections between people and nature. His work spans civic, institutional, and private projects across the Pacific Northwest, including the Washington Park Arboretum, Rainier Beach Urban Farm, Seattle University and Washington Fruit & Produce company headquarters.

Washington ASLA president Michael Faulkner offered support for Henry's nomination noting his work as “widely respected, recognizable, and deeply valued within our professional community.”

“His landscapes demonstrate how contemporary design, regional identity, and environmental performance can be seamlessly integrated to create places that are restorative, enduring, and meaningful,” Faulkner said.

A total of 36 landscape architects working across the U.S. make up the 2026 ASLA Fellows cohort. They will be elevated during an investiture ceremony at the 2026 Conference on Landscape Architecture, running Sept. 16-18 in Los Angeles.

Redmond to unveil large letter sign

The city of Redmond will unveil a new letter sign at Downtown Park on June 12.

The sign consists of seven five-foot-tall letters that spell out Redmond. The letters are cast in concrete and decorated with custom porcelain overlays. According to a press release, each was designed to celebrate the city through themes of culture, technology, inclusion and nature.

The letters are being installed to commemorate the legacy of the World Cup in the Puget Sound region, the city says. The sign is also expected to be a new gathering spot and community landmark.

The project was a cross-departmental effort, with city staff from multiple divisions collaborating to bring it from concept to completion quickly.

The public is invited to an unveiling event at 2 p.m.

“This installation takes Redmond's excitement for the World Cup and turns it into a lasting legacy,” Redmond Mayor, Angela Birney, said in the press release. “The letter designs capture who we are as a city: welcoming, innovative, and deeply rooted in community. We hope people will gather here for years to come, whether they're visitors stopping for a fun photo on their travels or community members taking pride in the place we call home.”

Seattle Art Fair returns July 23

The Seattle Art Fair returns to Lumen Field Event Center for its 10th edition from July 23 through 27.

The fair brings together global galleries alongside leading national and regional participants.

The 2026 fair has a special focus on textile and fiber art with major partners including The Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum, J. Rinehart Gallery, Jane Lombard Gallery and The Vestibule.

Visitors can look forward to dedicated tours and theater programs focused on how historic textile and fiber art practices continue to evolve through material innovation, labor, and storytelling in contemporary art.

A full list of exhibitors will be announced in the weeks leading to the fair, along with further information on events, public programming, and creative partnerships.

Additional information and tickets are at https://seattleartfair.com/

Single-day tickets start at $49.98. Seattle Art Fair was founded by the late Paul G. Allen. Seattle Art Museum is a beneficiary partner.

SDA event on work styles

SDA Seattle Chapter is hosting a webinar on June 9 designed to help administrative, management and operations professionals in the A/E/C industries recognize and leverage their work styles for positive results.

The event “Unlocking Fast Starters, Last Minuters, & Everyone In Between,” aims to “flip” the script on procrastination by revealing how our work styles, when named, understood, and communicated, can drive trust, collaboration and productivity. Attendees will walk away with a simple framework for recognizing their own style, reducing internal judgment, and building better relationships with colleagues.

The webinar will be led by Skot Waldron, a communication strategist, author, speaker and podcast host. Waldron has worked with organizations like J.P. Morgan Chase, the CDC, PGA Tour, Sesame Workshop, The Home Depot, and Coca-Cola. He aims to provide actionable, behavior-based strategies that improve leadership, alignment, and team performance.

He is the author of the Amazon best-seller “Unlocked: A 52-Week Guide for the Intentional Leader,” and host of the Unlocked With Skot Waldron podcast.

The webinar is from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. It is free for SDA PNW members, $10 for SDA members of other chapters and $20 for non-members.

To register or for more information, contact SDA at sdapacificnorthwest@gmail.com, or visit https://sdapnw.org/event/work_styles/

Vote for Ballard landmark board

The Ballard Avenue Landmark District (BLD) Board is currently holding its annual election of members.

The BLD is a nationally recognized historic district established in 1976 to commemorate the neighborhood's unique place in Ballard's history. The BLD board reviews and approves changes to building exteriors within the district. This includes signs, awnings, window transparency, paint colors, street furniture and new construction.

Two board positions are up for election:

• Position No. 6 for Property Owner or Business Person

• Position No. 7 for Property Owner

No candidates are seeking position #6. Three are seeking position #7. They are Meagan Teutsch, Leslie Mehren and Matthew Hopkins. Brief candidate statements will be included in the ballot.

Community members who are registered for this election will receive a ballot and self-addressed stamped envelope by mail. Property owners, business people and residents within the district are all eligible to vote. Physical ballots must be received by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods by Tuesday, June 9. Voters are encouraged to return ballots early.

Commerce tours county housing

In April, two staff from the Department of Commerce visited housing projects in Whatcom and Skagit counties, some directly funded by the state's affordable housing subsidy program.

Project Manager Whitney Raines and Capital Programs Investment Manager Angela Snow are members of commerce's homeownership unit. They started their tour at two subsidy-funded developments of Skagit Habitat for Humanity, Caledonia in La Conner and Parkside Cottages in Anacortes.

Later that day, they toured Kulshan Community Land Trust's LaFreniere Court and Telegraph Townhomes, the agency's joint venture with Whatcom Habitat for Humanity. LaFreniere Court has 18 permanently affordable homes under construction. Telegraph is a 24-townhome development which received funding from the affordability subsidy and downpayment assistance from commerce. It will eventually add a 50-80 unit condominium complex.

The following day, the pair met with people from Whatcom Habitat for Humanity to learn about Mateo Meadows townhomes in Everson. They also toured the Bellingham Habitat store. The tours culminated in a key-handing ceremony by Whatcom Skagit Housing at The Ridge at Harbor Hills in Blaine.

Home in Tacoma progress report

The city council of Tacoma held a study session in April to review the first year of the city's Home in Tacoma program. This program began as an initiative in 2019 and was adopted in November 2024. It replaced all single-family zoning in Tacoma with flexible Urban Residential zones.

Home in Tacoma is intended to contribute to Tacoma's Affordable Housing Action Strategy.

For the study session, the city pre-released a report summarizing data from February 2025 – January 2026, compared to a five-year rolling average. The report referred to a 62% increase in the number of proposed housing units within newly rezoned areas and a 39% increase in permit applications within these specific zones. As most of the projects are still in progress, the city said it couldn't fully evaluate their affordability.

The Home in Tacoma first year report can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/HITacomaReport2026

Pioneer Square is now a creative district

Pioneer Square has been designated a Certified Washington State Creative District by the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA).

It's a fitting moniker for Seattle's oldest neighborhood, which has long been known for its arts and cultural scene.

Pioneer Square is home to a diverse mix of galleries, performance spaces, and design studios including Foster/White Gallery, Central Saloon, Atelier Drome Architects, Jones and Jones, Red Eagle Soaring, Gallery 4Culture and Pilchuck Glass School.

Recent additions include Board & Vellum and the RailSpur micro-district, which regularly partners with nonprofit public art organization Forest for The Trees to active its buildings and alleyways with arts and cultural events and installations.

Pioneer Square is also known for its monthly Art Walk. The Art Walk launched in 1981 and is now the longest running art walk in the nation.

Creative districts receive access to resources, technical assistance, and statewide visibility to help sustain arts and culture as drivers of economic growth and community identity.

“This designation reflects years of work by local businesses, artists, and community partners who continue to invest in Pioneer Square's future,” Lisa Howard, executive director of the Alliance for Pioneer Square, shared in a press release. “It's a meaningful step in building on that momentum and reinforcing Pioneer Square as a destination where creativity and businesses will continue to thrive.”

“Pioneer Square holds the legacy of the people who live, create, work, and build in Seattle,” Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson added. “Through arts and culture, it continues to shape that legacy into a place people are drawn to, not just a neighborhood, but a cultural destination.”

More at: https://www.arts.wa.gov/creative-districts/

Mayor to speak at AIA Seattle event

Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson will give the opening remarks at AIA Seattle's 2026 Housing Design Forum on June 1.

The forum, to be held at the National Nordic Museum in Ballard, will examine how the design community can promote “abundant, high-quality, diverse, and sustainable housing options in Seattle and beyond.”

AIA Seattle says attendees will gain a deepened understanding of recent policy advantages, regulatory reform, and construction methods, and get inspired by three design case studies (Beacon Hill Co-op, Shared Roof, and Crow Woods) to visualize what a future of abundant housing might look like.

Brandon Pace of Tennessee firm Sanders Pace Architecture will give the closing keynote in which he will share collaborative housing work and strategies to prioritize equity, access and livability.

The full line-up of speakers and sessions, and tickets at: https://aiaseattle.org/events/2026housingforum/

Early bird pricing is available until May 18. You do not have to be an AIA member to attend the forum.

Walker Consultants moves to Bellevue

After over a decade in Seattle's Belltown, Walker Consultants has relocated to the Gateway I Building in Bellevue. The building is located at 11400 S.E. Eighth St., which is just south of the city's downtown core.

For more than 65 years, Walker Consultants has helped owners and operators of complex assets identify and prevent costly failures across building, restoration, and mobility systems to protect performance, extend asset life, and preserve long-term value.

From Bellevue, the Seattle team — John Crase (managing principal), Trent Tinney, (senior restoration consultant), Kelvin Liu (senior building envelope consultant), Steve Dombrowski, (senior accessibility consultant), Scott McKinnis (parking and mobility consultant), Lexi Cai (restoration engineer), and Kashi Karne, (restoration engineer) — will continue supporting owners and operators across the Pacific Northwest with building envelope, restoration, parking and accessibility design, and consulting services.

Join the West Seattle tree walk May 15

SDOT is hosting a tree walk in West Seattle at the Delridge Native Forest Garden on May 15. Attendees will learn about the Delridge Native Forest Garden Project and will explore why native plants and the restoration of this property are important.

The walk will be led by SDOT staff and Warren KingGeorge, the oral historian of the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.

The Delridge Native Forest Garden Project is a partnership between SDOT, regional Tribes and community groups to restore four acres of forest in West Seattle's Delridge neighborhood.

The project is located on forested land east of Delridge Way Southwest, between Southwest Orchard Street and Southwest Holden St.

The walk is being offered at three times: 12 p.m., 12:45 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. The walk is free. You must RSVP in advance at https://tfaforms.com/5220346

Island Roots reports on 2025 successes

Island Roots of Island County recently produced its 2025 report to the community. It reasserts its mission to support housing stability and tenant dignity and describes housing developments in progress, those in the pipeline and some financial details.

Current projects include Generations Place in Langley that consists of 14 two- and three-bedroom apartments serving households earning up to 60% and 80% area median income. By the end of 2025, foundations were laid to support framing, and trusses set to enclose interiors. The DJC reported on construction progress in January: https://tinyurl.com/GenPlaceConstr

Crediting a generous neighbor in the report, Generations Place purchased the lot next door at 627 Second St. It currently has a two-bedroom house and a one-bedroom ADU. The property will be integrated with Generations Place to provide additional rental units and shared amenity space.

Another development is on Fifth Street in Langley, now in feasibility and led by architect Rick Brown. Whidbey firms Taproot Architects and Harmsen PLLC civil engineers will commence work in spring 2026.

And yet another affordable housing development on Wahl Road is on the boards. A donation by Tinyblue Foundation allowed Island Roots to bring a 20-acre property into its stewardship in 2025. A farmhouse cottage onsite is slated for a remodel this year, and the six-bedroom main residence might be converted into congregate housing for home care workers.

In the report are tributes to islanders who died in 2025, Michael Schuerlein and Nancy Nordhoff. Schuerlein was a founding board member for Island Roots Housing, a master builder, mentor and generous contributor of countless pro bono hours to Generations Place. Nordhoff is the co-founder of Goosefoot Community Fund and a lifelong philanthropist.

Island Roots was formed in 2023 directly to manage Generations Place in Langley and on the hope of future housing projects. The county awarded $1.1 million to support early planning and allowing Goosefoot to purchase two building parcels of land in Langley.

Cascade 6 seeks Phius Core 2024 certification

Cascade 6 is a six-unit residential infill project targeting Phius Core 2024 certification with design underway by HKP Architects, based in Mount Vernon. The Phius Core 2024 is a certification that guides developments to deliver energy efficiency, lower utility costs and reduced environmental impact.

HKP expects Cascade 6 to benefit from up to 70% energy savings, greater thermal comfort, improved indoor air quality and superior acoustic performance. The team is also tracking the embodied carbon of the project, which is tracking 70% less than a baseline building model.

Located at 140th Street Southeast and Cascadian Way in southeast Everett, the site includes a protected wetland and buffer covering more than 75% of the parcel from the eastern side. Rather than treating this as a constraint, HKP's design leverages it as a defining feature for orienting the buildings east-west for optimal daylighting and on-site solar production potential while framing views of the wetland.

Cascade 6 is all-electric and includes one duplex building and one four-unit townhome building. Each unit includes a two-car garage, three + bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, living room, kitchen, dining room and storage. The project is slated to start construction in the fall of 2026.

“With Cascade 6, we want to prove there's real market demand for high-performance, all-electric homes — delivering comfort, health, and dramatically lower energy use while still meeting a practical budget and return profile,” said Mario Velez, CEO of project developer Pemenang LLC.

HKP Architects, a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC), is in the lead design position. Pre-construction services are provided by Black Sheep Development. Rogan Homes is the prime contractor, teaming with Targa Homes for their passive building experience. Other team members include Insight Engineering, civil; Root of Design, landscape; Malsam Tsang, structural; McKinney Engineering, electrical; Energy Vanguard, HVAC design; and BEE, energy modeling and Phius verification.