The Station at Othello Park in Southeast Seattle Awarded LEED Silver Status by U.S. Green Building Council

The Station is the first mixed-use development project along Seattle’s Central Link light rail

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 22, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Characterized by its innovative environmental and sustainable features, The Station at Othello Park development in Southeast Seattle now represents the first mixed-use project on Seattle’s Central Link light rail to earn prestigious LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Developed by Othello Partners and USAA Real Estate Company, The Station at Othello Park was designed and constructed from the ground up using sustainable development practices. As one of 22 LEED NC (New Construction) Silver-certified projects in Seattle, The Station at Othello Park exemplifies sustainable innovations that promote energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, eco-friendly materials selection and alternative transit options as part of a healthier workplace and living environment.

Designed by Hinthorne Mott, the 420,000-square-foot mixed-use project offers 351 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes, includes 20,000 square feet of street-level retail, underground parking and generous tenant amenities such as a 7,500-square-foot rooftop deck.  The development is located on the bustling corner of Martin Luther King Way South and South Othello Street in Southeast Seattle, directly on the light rail line. The project was completed in April 2011.

“Earning LEED Silver status for The Station at Othello Park represents an important milestone in our commitment to sustainability,” said Steve Rauf, president and CEO of Othello Partners. “As a state-of-the-art, sustainable, transit-oriented development, The Station at Othello Park provides long-term value not only for its tenants and residents, but also for the greater community.”

Some of the sustainable features that helped The Station achieve its LEED Silver designation:

• Unparalleled proximity to public transit options – Seattle’s Central Link light rail stops directly in front of project, connecting tenants throughout South Seattle, downtown core and regional transit hubs
• Alternative transportation programs – bicycle storage and racks and special parking for low emitting/fuel efficient cars
• More than 25 percent of the building’s materials are regional – selected within 500 miles of site
• Extensive use of recycled and rapidly renewable materials, and low VOC paints and carpets
• Construction recycling and salvaging plan diverted nearly 90 percent of non-hazardous construction waste from landfills
• Reduction of pollution during construction, achieved by following an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan
• Building designed to emphasize daylight and views – built for occupant comfort and health
• Mechanical systems designed to perform 23 percent better than the National Energy Standard (ASHRAE)
• Water-efficient toilets, faucets and showers designed to reduce potable water use by more than 40 percent

“We are extremely pleased with the LEED status that The Station at Othello Park has achieved,” states Pat Duncan, Chairman and CEO of USAA Real Estate Company.  “This exemplifies  our company’s commitment of increasing energy efficiency to reduce the operating costs for our tenants and to be a good community steward of the environment.”

Commitment to sustainability and green living was a team-effort. The Station at Othello Park project team includes: Othello Partners (owner and developer); USAA Real Estate Company (financial partner); Rushing Company (LEED consultant); Hinthorne Mott (architect) Lair Design (interior designer); Exxel Pacific (general contractor) and Karen Kiest Landscape Architects (landscape architect).

The Station at Othello Park has also partnered with the City of Seattle’s “One Less Car” Challenge. The program, designed to encourage drivers to sell their current automobile, offers incentives for lessening or eliminating the use of a car. In conjunction with this program and the incentives offered by the City, The Station at Othello Park is also offering a $300 ORCA card to tenants that do not lease a stall in the building for the entire term of their lease.

About Othello Partners

Othello Partners is committed to developing environmentally conscious and financially viable residential and commercial projects with a focus on urban in-fill redevelopment. The company, located in the Rainier Valley neighborhood of Seattle, has more than 780 units of residential and 40,000 square feet of retail space under development along light rail. These mixed-use communities will bring high-quality, affordably-priced apartment housing and engaging retail to the Othello neighborhood and greater Rainier Valley. For more information, visit www.thestationatothellopark.com.

About USAA Real Estate Company

USAA Real Estate Company, with billions of dollars of real estate assets under management, provides co-investment, acquisition, build-to-suit and development capital for corporate and institutional investors. The company’s portfolio consists of office, industrial, multi-family, retail and hotel properties as well as investments in real estate operating companies. USAA Real Estate is a subsidiary of USAA, a leading financial services company, serving military families since 1922. For more information, visit www.usrealco.com.