In a decisive move to address Seattle's housing crunch, the City of Seattle's Office of Housing has selected El Centro de la Raza and Mercy Housing Northwest to build affordable homes in the Mount Baker area, targeting families and fostering educational opportunities; the development is poised to inject 431 new homes into a locale keenly in need of diversity and accessible housing options, according to City of Seattle.
The partnership is part of a well-orchestrated effort by the city which capitalized on a strategic property transfer from the University of Washington back in June 2020, that included the now-defunct UW Laundry site, to bolster community-focused development, housing affordability, and to establish the much-anticipated Rainier Valley Early Learning Campus (RVELC) – all under the umbrella of what the City is framing as its One Seattle strategy for sustainable, inclusive community growth.
A sizable investment of $5 million from the 2023-2024 city budget plus additional funds from other parties underpins the ambitious project – "I’m thrilled that the Mount Baker Redevelopment is moving forward and making real our vision of a community-centered development that increases access to opportunity. With convenient connections to transit, this visionary project will give more families a pathway to stability, empower the next generation of great educators in our city, and provide our littlest learners with the supportive environment they need to grow and thrive," said Mayor Bruce Harrell, echoing the enthusiastic sentiments of other key players in the redevelopment venture.
Locations earmarked for the development are at 2901 27th Ave S, 2700 S Winthrop St, and the corner of 26th Ave S and S Forest St, where the mix of rental and for-sale homes will cater to a range of income levels among which 30% are designated for families earning at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), demonstrating a clear commitment to economic diversity and with 60% being family-sized units, it's clear the focus is on fostering a sustainable community environment.
Estela Ortega, Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to impact the community, stating, "By centering racial equity and actively seeking community input for residents to thrive, connect, and build meaningful lives, we pledge to create housing that uplifts families and nurtures community, and build what Dr. King eloquently referred to as the Beloved Community." Meanwhile, Joe Thompson, President of Mercy Housing Northwest, highlighted the focus on serving families and children which is central to the mission of both organizations involved in the development project, as reported by the City of Seattle.
The development will be funded by primary OH fund sources, including the Seattle Housing Levy, JumpStart/Payroll Expense Tax, and Mandatory Housing Affair, solidifying the project's financial footing and ensuring its completion, the planned facilities will not only engender a vibrant community but also serve as a beacon of educational innovation, as underscored by Mia Tuan, Dean of the UW College of Education, who touted the RVELC as "Leveraging the UW’s research expertise, this hub of early learning excellence embedded within the Rainier Valley community will be a place of gathering, learning and commitment to uplifting the early learning profession and will serve as a national model for authentic community and university partnership."
