Design Build — Shoreline, WA
Building in
Shoreline often gets treated as an afterthought relative to its flashier neighbors to the south, but for clients who are thinking carefully about value, the neighborhood has a compelling argument. Good housing stock, improving transit connections, and an active city government that has been making real improvements in permit efficiency over the past few years.
Shoreline's housing stock skews mid-century — lots of post-war construction that was well-built for its time and holds up structurally, but hasn't always aged well in terms of layout, mechanical systems, or energy performance. These are good candidates for the kind of surgical remodel we do well: preserving what's worth keeping, replacing what isn't, and adding where the lot and zoning allow. The Magnolia Mid-Century Remodel is a useful reference point for how we approach this type of project.
The City of Shoreline has made a deliberate effort to streamline its permit process for residential projects, and it shows. Standard residential permits — additions, remodels, new construction within normal parameters — move at a reasonable pace. The complexity increases for projects near the City's mapped critical areas, which include several stream corridors and wetland areas in the eastern portions of the city.
Shoreline's proximity to the 145th Street Link station has already started affecting property values and development interest in the neighborhoods within walking distance. ADUs and DADUs are increasingly compelling investments in the transit-adjacent blocks, and the city has been generally supportive of accessory dwelling unit applications that meet its design standards.
Shoreline adopted its own tree preservation ordinance several years ago, and it applies to significant trees on private property — not just those in critical areas or public right-of-way. If your project involves any tree removal, a pre-application conversation with City of Shoreline is worth doing before you finalize the site plan.
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