SEATTLE, Aug. 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As residents open the doors to their new apartments in the heart of the Rainier Valley, there's one less key on their keychain. That's because this new transit-oriented development doesn't have a parking garage. Instead, it features Zipcar, whose car sharing service enables residents to reserve and drive a car by the hour, paying for it only when they use it.
Artspace Mt. Baker Lofts features 57 studio, one- and three-bedroom units, a roof deck with spacious garden area, a large community room, ample bicycle storage, open floor plans to accommodate creative activities, high ceilings, large windows and doors, and two Zipcars to help residents get around the city.
One of the goals of the project was to jump-start the transformation of the Mt. Baker neighborhood from a car-oriented environment — Rainier Avenue is now a busy multi-lane thoroughfare — into an "urban village" whose residents choose walking, biking or riding mass transit over cars.
"Having access to Zipcar makes it possible — even easy — to live in the city without owning a car," said Carla Archambault, general manager Zipcar Seattle. "It's why developers like Artspace are increasingly rethinking the need for onsite parking, and why communities are seeking ways to become more walkable and pedestrian/bike-friendly."
Results from a recent survey of Seattle-based Zipcar members show that more than 30 percent of respondents reported increasing transit ridership while nearly 40 percent reported increasing walking as a result of being a Zipcar member. More than 50 percent said they were less likely to buy a car (compared to eight percent who said they were likely to buy a car). Additionally, the number of households with one vehicle dropped from 41 percent to 18 percent after joining Zipcar.
Zipcar has hundreds of vehicles parked in reserved parking spots throughout Seattle, including three other locations in Rainier Valley: Beacon Hill, Othello and Rainier Ave. From advanced technology hybrids, to utility pickups and cargo vans, to AWD vehicles with bike and ski racks, to luxury vehicles, Zipcar has the right vehicle for the trip. Zipcar's vehicles can be reserved from one minute up to a year in advance. Rates start as low as $7.75 per hour and $73 per day and include gas, insurance and 180 free miles per day.
About Zipcar
With more than 10,000 vehicles in hundreds of cities, towns, airports and college and corporate campuses around the world, Zipcar makes car sharing more available to more people in more places than any other provider. With its ONE>WAY and round-trip options, its wide variety of vehicles from premium brands to Zipvans, and its industry-leading business, government and FastFleet programs, Zipcar offers the most comprehensive, most convenient and most flexible car sharing options available anywhere. Zipcar is a subsidiary of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:CAR), a leading global provider of vehicle rental services. More information is available at www.zipcar.com.
About Artspace
Artspace is the nation's leader in artist-led community transformation, with 35 projects in operation across the country and another dozen in development, representing a unique, $600 million investment in America's arts infrastructure. Through its Consulting division, Artspace has brought its hard-earned expertise to more than 300 cultural planning efforts from coast-to-coast. With headquarters in Minneapolis and offices in Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Seattle and Washington D.C., Artspace is America's leading developer of arts facilities. To date we have completed nearly 2,000 affordable live/work units for artists and their families as well as more than a million square feet of non-residential space for artists and arts organizations. Additional information is available at artspace.org.