Bringing eighty new units of senior (55+) affordable housing apartments to the edge of downtown, the Eleanor Apartments also brings new life to an underused corner of the city with features designed to engage people with the urban environment and to support and promote healthy living and social interaction. Owner Mercy Housing is committed to a holistic approach and blends amenities and resident services into its mission of housing vulnerable communities.

The project responds by integrating four distinct strategies that are accomplished or reinforced through design and building features:

ENCOURAGE SOCIAL INTERACTION, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: features include a pea patch, open stair, walking route; tall windows for daylight; outdoor and indoor gathering spaces, ground-floor front doors and small gardens; bike storage; pet-friendly. A small office and exam room on the ground floor accommodates visiting medical professionals; signage guides residents to wellness opportunities throughout the building.

INSPIRE SENSE OF IDENTITY, PRIDE & BELONGING: high quality materials; distinctive colors to help identify building and floors; personalized entries; common spaces to encourage interaction including mail room lobby, 4th floor deck and spacious community room.

PROTECT ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVE RESOURCES: 99.9 kw photovoltaic array, triple-pane windows, durable, solid-surface countertops, rain garden, bus stop, bike storage. Meets Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard.

ENHANCE URBAN FABRIC AND INVITE PEDESTRIANS: positive street presence on all sides; building respects urban setting by abutting the street at the corner with a commercial-like presence (locating the main community space on this corner provides street-level activity and interest); ground-floor units step back and are elevated with stoops and small fenced front garden. Green edge on opposite side of the building addresses the “drive by” experience; strong corners reinforce character. The building’s large lineal mass is articulated to echo the rhythm of a downtown street. Window bays project from the façade and vibrant color is used to emphasize the form and enliven the street. The building brings masonry down to the pedestrian level and provides steel canopies for weather protection and a strong urban feel.

Eleanor Apartments Bellingham, WA Project Area: 69,114 s.f.

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B E L L I N G H A MB A Y W A T E R F R O N T

D O W N T O W N

R E S I D E N T I A LPROJECT SITE

VICINITY PLAN

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5'10'

20'40'

N O R T H F O R E S T S T R E E T

C H

A M

P I

O N

S

T R

E E

T

E L L I

S S T R E E T

E L E A N O R A P A R T M E N T S

PEA PATCH

PAVILION

SITE PLAN 5’ 20’

10’ 40’

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2’ 8’

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01'

2'4'

8'16'

RESIDENTIAL

COMMON

SERVICE / SUPPORT

CIRCULATION

SECOND FLOOR PLAN 1’ 4’ 16’

2’ 8’

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