The work on Thornton Place, the new “village” at the former Northgate south parking lot, has been ongoing for about a year and a half. I have been watching it evolve each week and am looking forward to the opening next year. If you have been wondering what the project is all about, here is some information.
Lorig, the project developer, is welcoming Pinehurst community members on a special tour of the project. The tour will start Saturday, October 25th at 10 AM. If you would like to join us, please RSVP to me (reneeastaton at gmail.com) and I will send you the rest of the details.
Sustainable Homes in a Sustainable Neighborhood
Recognition for Environmental Excellence
Thornton Place is expected to achieve the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED™, Silver rating for new construction as well as LEED™ Silver certification under their pilot neighborhood development program (LEED-ND™). LEED™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance buildings. Thornton Place is also expected to achieve the City of Seattle’s Build Smart™ certification. To learn more about LEED™ and Build Smart visit:
www.usgbc.org/leed
www.seattle.gov/light/conserve/resident
Thornton Place is one of only five projects in Washington State and 238 projects across the country chosen to participate in the USGBC’s LEED-ND™ pilot program. LEED-ND™ discourages urban sprawl and promotes the creation of compact, walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods.
Green Building Features
To achieve LEED™ Silver certification for new construction and Build Smart™ certification, Thornton Place will meet specific requirements in various areas of design and construction:
- Water and electricity conservation
- Thornton Place’s overall electricity consumption is reduced by 17% by using hardwired compact fluorescent light fixtures, central hot water heat and large windows that reduce the need for artificial light.
- Extra insulation in floors, walls and ceilings and energy-saving windows and doors will help reduce heating bills.
- Water consumption is reduced by 24% by utilizing low-flow toilets, showers and faucets.
- More efficient irrigation systems and drought tolerant plants will reduce Thornton Place’s water use for landscaping to half of that in a conventional neighborhood.
Environmentally responsible construction practices
Thornton Place recycles more than 90% of its construction waste, which has thus far diverted more than 1,000 tons of material from landfills.
Ten percent of the construction materials for Thornton Place will be sourced from within 500-miles and/or be recycled, reducing carbon footprint supporting local industry.
Livability
- Materials such as adhesives, paints and carpets meet USGBC’s stringent restrictions on the off-gassing of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), creating better indoor air quality for residents. Carpets meet even higher standards for limited emission of other known toxins further improving indoor air quality.
- The amount of open space is more than double what the City of Seattle requires.
- Over 75% of the units at Thornton Place have natural daylighting to all of the rooms.
- More than 90% of the homes have views outside to the water-channel, mews and pedestrian plaza.
- Thornton Place is a smoke-free development.
Transit Oriented Development
Thornton Place is a walkable, transit oriented development where residents can leave their cars behind while staying connected to the city’s amenities. Specific transportation-efficient measures include:
- Proximity to the Northgate transit center which provides exceptional access to bus routes and puts downtown Seattle within 15-minutes by express bus. The integration of the light rail stations at Northgate will also provide additional transit opportunities.
- Zipcars subsidized for residents’ use.
- Preferred parking for alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. hybrid, electric and natural gas).
- Thornton Place will have a designated transit coordinator and will provide subsidized Metro passes for residents – especially those without cars – as well as provide incentives towards the purchase of a bike or bike accessories.
- Ample secure bike parking and showers on site for workers at Thornton Place.
Restoration of Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel
The Thornton Creek Water Quality Channel is being created where Thornton Creek once ran. The water from the creek, buried underneath the concrete of Northgate Mall’s south parking lot for the last 50 years, was restructured to flow through a three-acre publically accessible greenbelt as a manmade stream. It will naturally filter watershed drainage as it passes through the vegetation in the streambed, ultimately reducing pollution in Thornton Creek.
Neighborhood
In order to create a livable, walkable community, Thornton Place includes apartments, condominiums, live/work units, restaurants, retail, outdoor spaces, bike trails, walking paths, and easy access to public transportation. Specifically:
- Thornton Place contains a diversity of housing types, with rental, for-sale and senior living at Aljoya.
- The project redeveloped a “greyfield” parking lot into a place to live, work, and play.
- Thornton Place is situated in a thriving commercial and residential district within walking distance of the neighborhood’s center and in close proximity to jobs, shopping and recreational activities.
Learn more: http://www.thornton-place.com/
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