Fremont Complex Has Small-Village Feel

The houses: A dozen three-story town homes, averaging 1,500-square-feet each, set into a hillside in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. Each has its own entrance, and all are centered around a terraced courtyard featuring a boulder-strewn waterfall and pool. Hence the condominium's name: Stonewater. The units, priced from $369,000 to $425,000, have nine-foot ceilings, maple floors and cabinets, sandstone entries, gas fireplaces, granite tile counters and underground parking. Four floor plans are offered; some have three bedrooms, others two and a den.

The architects: Ray and Mary Johnston, Johnston Architects. Because the project is in an older neighborhood with both single family homes and large apartments, they and the developer were particularly sensitive to neighbors' concerns. "People tend to like their neighborhood as it is," Ray Johnston points out, "so a major concern was to preserve the views of the neighbors living above while making it look like single-family homes from the street." Adds Mary Johnston: "The steepness of the site helped because you have to have different levels, which created interest. We wanted it to blend in and stand out so we chose colors in a woodland palate" of soft greens and other fall leaf colors.

The owner-developer: William Parks, Crocus Development. His goal was "to build a community. I lived on a houseboat for 10 years, and I was thinking of the relationship people built because of the layout. I wanted to build a little village and bring water to it. . ."

Judges' comments: "The development evokes a feeling of a quaint seaside fishing village that twists and turns with the hillside, and still blends gracefully with the surrounding neighborhood. Very nice!" "Wonderful example of architect and owner using the design review process with the City of Seattle to provide a quality environment for the project and the neighborhood."

Construction cost: $140 a square foot, excluding garage and land.

Floor plans: See Page xx.

Tour details: noon to 5 p.m. today (Sunday) only.

Address: 3824 through 3828 Evanston Ave. N., Seattle.

Driving directions: From Interstate 5 north or south take the Mercer Street exit. Turn right at the light onto Fairview Avenue North, then left onto Valley Street, then right again onto Westlake Avenue. Follow it around Lake Union. Bear right and cross the Fremont Bridge. Turn left onto 36th Street, and right again at Evanston Avenue North (by the statue of Lenin). Project is on the right. Stonewater is on a steep street and is not handicap accessible.

The Seattle Times/AIA Home of the Month program began in 1954. All licensed architects are encouraged to submit their residential work for consideration. Nominees are reviewed by the Seattle Chapter, AIA Home of the Month Committee, which includes peers and non-architects. Call 206-448-4938.