Seattle developer Jaebadiah Gardner is gearing up to break ground on two multifamily projects in the Central District, with plans that promise new housing and ground-floor retail in a neighborhood that has seen some of the city’s most dramatic change. The moves land squarely in the middle of ongoing arguments over affordability, displacement and who truly benefits when new buildings go up.
According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, Gardner expects both projects to start construction later this year, and that reporting notes the developments are backed by Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund. The Business Journal frames the two buildings as part of Gardner’s larger push for locally led, mixed-income housing in historically Black areas of Seattle.
Sarah Queen Rising at 23rd & Union
One of the two projects is The Sarah Queen, a mixed-use development planned for the 23rd and Union block. Gardner’s materials describe roughly 117 residential units, paired with a market-hall concept and a stated affordability component. The project website says the building will feature small-business retail and is aiming for a fall 2027 completion. Design details are pitched as evoking the Central District’s cultural history through specific materials and storefront treatments.
From Church Lot to Mixed-Use Homes
Gardner purchased the Mount Calvary Christian Center property on 23rd Ave, and the church was demolished last year to clear the way for the new project, Capitol Hill Seattle reported. That outlet also noted Gardner previously secured a $4.5 million award from Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund to advance earlier concepts for the site, highlighting how private capital has been woven into Central District redevelopment.
Amazon Backing and Minority-Led Development
Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund has become a major financier of housing in the Puget Sound region, and the company says it focuses on projects that support minority-led developers and long-term affordability. Amazon outlines local commitments on its site, describing a strategy that uses below-market capital to preserve existing affordable homes and help build new ones.
Gardner’s Background and Pipeline
Gardner leads GardnerGlobal and Onpoint Real Estate and presents his work as part of a mission to build generational Black wealth through real estate. His own site lists a pipeline of projects and past partnerships spanning both market-rate and subsidized housing. The materials put a heavy emphasis on community-facing retail and affordability components as central features of the Central District proposals.
Community Reaction and What’s Next
Local coverage depicts a split response. Some neighbors and advocates welcome a Black-owned development firm bringing affordable units and space for small businesses. Others question whether these projects can meaningfully slow or reverse long-running displacement, according to reporting on the plans. Early filings and prior reports indicate the developments still need to clear design review and obtain building permits before construction can begin, so neighborhood feedback and final financing will help determine whether the hoped-for groundbreakings actually arrive later this year.
