Seattle Press on Line - New Fremont Housing Will Feature Flexcar Membership

New Fremont Housing Will Feature Flexcar Membership

Waiting for a Flexcar.

Aug 09, 2000 -- Fremont Housing Group (FHG), developer of the new six-story mixed-use building on the Red Door parking lot, will provide a Flexcar membership for each of the 128 residences in the building. The total value of the memberships is $32,000. In addition, the building's garage will house up to eight flex-cars free of charge.

Flexcar is a private company founded in 1999. It essentially creates small neighborhood motor pools where members, who pay an annual basic fee of $250, can pick up a car for personal use. Flexcar currently has 13 cars and one pick-up truck available for shared use in its Capitol Hill operation.

FHG spokesperson John Marasco explained the reasons for the unusual tenant amenity: "We often put together a package of benefits to attract good tenants. We feel this is one of the best we could offer. It is a win-win for the tenants, the community and for Flexcar.

"Six major bus lines and the Burke-Gilman Trail converge in Fremont. We believe many tenants won't need to own a car. That will leave additional parking for the community, and less traffic on the streets."

Flexcar president Neil Peterson said, "This could be a model for housing developments throughout the city."

The $250 basic Flexcar membership covers insurance, use, maintenance and repair of the vehicles. A $500 membership includes an annual Metro bus pass worth $700.

FHG got the idea for a Flexcar tenant benefit from Bumgardner, the architects on their project, which routinely keeps a two-car motor pool available for employees to encourage them to bike or bus to work and still have a car available for errands during the day.

The new apartment building will stretch along the entire block of North 34th Street between Fremont Avenue North and Evanston Avenue North. Retail stores and two live-work units will occupy the first floor, with studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments on the floors above.

The building is designed with 194 parking stalls, 23 more than is required by code for the size of the building.

William Del Valle, membership development director for Flexcar, said, "We've already been asked to make the first Flexcar in Fremont an Art Car. I'm not sure what that means but we've been assured we'll like it."

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