The Compass Veterans Center in Renton has received national awards and local attention recently.

The project developed by Compass Housing Alliance of Seattle, won the Novogradac Journal of Tax Credits Development of Distinction 2010 award for “Major Community Impact.” The center provides 59 units of supportive service housing for former veterans and their families. It opened in November and is completely occupied.

“We’re thrilled,” said Rick Friedhoff, executive director. “This is a really good building and a good place for these families headed by veterans to call home and we’re proud of that.”

Compass Housing Alliance sent a representative to the awards breakfast in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 3. The project also was an honorable mention in the “Financial Innovation” category. The awards honor outstanding achievement in the development of tax credit housing, historic rehabilitation and renewable energy.

Locally, the Compass Veterans Center was recognized as the “Project of the Week” for the week of Dec. 13 in Seattle’s Daily Journal of Commerce.

The center will be the home of Luther’s Table, a coffee shop by day and a pub by night occupying the retail area of the center on the ground level.

The managers, St. Matthew Lutheran Church and Northwest Synod, hope to open Luther’s Table in another month to six weeks.