The Fremont Inn has seen better days. Ever since Seattle Police Chief John Diaz declared the Inn, a.k.a. Thunderbird Motel, a chronic nuisance property in 2010, things went from bad to worse. It fell into disrepair, was foreclosed on and bought by Chesterfield Mortgage Investors, Inc.
Image from Google street view map
Now a group called Catholic Community Services wants to turn the former site into a property for low-income, previously homeless people.
If the Catholic Community Services plan goes forward, the dilapidated motel, built in 1956, would be replaced by a four-story building with more than 70 units.
The Fremont Chamber of Commerce has voted to write a support letter, and the Wallingford Neighborhood Council has also generally supported the idea, Wise said. The organization is working on applications for state housing trust fund money and city and county construction dollars. That would be followed by requests for service dollars, though that’s indicated in the initial application.
A decision on supporting funds is expected this fall, Wise said.
CCS already runs the nearby Aloha Inn in this manner, where residents work 15 hours each week in exchange for room and board.
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