A project to replace what just might the simplest, saddest little two-unit apartment building on Capitol Hill with an eight-story, 71-unit development will take what should be its final bow in front of the East Design Review Board Wednesday night.

Designed by Cone Architecture and developed by Highpoint Investments, the project in the 200 block of Harvard Ave E between E Olive Way and Thomas will rise an extra story with its plans for 66 “small efficiency dwelling units” and a set of five standard “efficiency units.”

Developers are presenting a few options for shading to the board

Small efficiency dwelling units are, of course, microhousing. So we suppose regular efficiency units are just housing. Who knows. But the project will replace a two-story, two unit, 1978-built structure that has been efficient enough over the years. Still, its time has come.

“The objective for these apartments is to provide upscale and attainable housing that is centrally located to the amenities of the Capitol Hill Neighborhood and within close proximity to multiple forms of public transportation and downtown Seattle,” the developers write. “The project parcels, located within the Capitol Hill Urban Center Village, adjacent the Pike/Pine Urban Center Village and one block away from the Capitol Hill Light Rail Station, are prime for denser development with a focus on a pedestrian oriented lifestyle.”

Appropriately, no parking is proposed.

In December of last year as the project passed through its first phase of review, neighbors were most concerned with privacy around the planned eight-story structure and a significant tree that was reportedly removed prior to the start of development planning.

This week, the board won’t be able to do anything about the long gone tree but they’ll likely have a few more things to say about “high quality materials and careful detailing” that will be “essential to articulate the simple massing and flat façade,” and materials including wood, metal panel, and brick. The board back in December said it was also concerned about how the project will address privacy and noise concerns for smaller nearby residents. Will the design help make the new upscale microhousing project a good enough neighbor? We’ll find out Wednesday night.

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