A vacant substation site in Highland Park that the city set aside for redevelopment more than a decade ago is now the proposed home for 20 permanently affordable, for-sale homes. The roughly 9,400-square-foot lot at 16th SW and SW Holden would hold a four-story building with two live-work units and street-level commercial space, according to a preliminary site plan.
The nonprofit Homestead Community Land Trust was chosen as developer for the project, as reported by West Seattle Blog. Seattle's Office of Housing has already committed up to $3 million to support the creation of 21 permanently affordable homes on the site, per the same outlet's report. The preliminary plan calls for a primary residential entry on 16th SW, with additional residential and live-work entries facing SW Holden, and garage access planned off the west-side alley.
Unlike many subsidized housing developments, these units are designed for ownership rather than rent. That distinction matters in a city where, per Homestead's own accounting, homeownership programs get a fraction of available public housing dollars. According to Next City, only about 5% of Seattle's $290 million Housing Levy pays for homeownership efforts, even as the city has been slowly shifting more investment toward building out community land trust housing rather than down-payment assistance alone.
How the Land Trust Model Keeps Prices Down
Homestead Community Land Trust describes its mission as making homeownership permanently affordable for households locked out of the market. The organization retains ownership of the underlying land and leases it to homeowners through a renewable 99-year agreement, while buyers agree to a resale formula meant to keep each home affordable for the next income-qualified purchaser, per Next City's reporting on the model. When an owner eventually sells, the home must go to another income-qualified applicant at a restricted price.
The numbers illustrate why that structure matters in Seattle's market. Community land trust homes typically sell for between $150,000 and $350,000, a steep discount from the roughly $855,000 median home price citywide, Next City reports. Homestead says its buyers typically purchase at prices below 50% of market value, and the organization notes that nearly 60% of its homeowners are people of color. Homestead currently has 245 homes in its portfolio, compared with 533 built in Seattle and King County by Habitat for Humanity, according to Next City's tally.
Community Input Still Shaping Design
Homestead and SMR Architects have been working to fold in the community's early guidance on the Dumar Substation project, the West Seattle Blog reported. Community members have specifically pushed for ground-floor commercial or retail space, and Homestead says it will invite further input on that piece of the design. Homestead Community Land Trust CEO Kathleen Hosfeld said the organization has been working to convene community conversations about design choices before submitting a permit, and told the outlet that Homestead is still working to secure additional funding, including a planned application for a share of Washington state's Housing Trust Fund.
The project already has a recent early-stage filing in the city permit system, though the West Seattle Blog's reporting does not detail its permitting status beyond that. Hosfeld said Homestead hopes construction can start in 2027, though no firm start date has been confirmed.
Where to Weigh In Next
Homestead plans to present updated project information at the Highland Park Action Committee meeting on September 23, sharing an update on the design and permitting timeline and fielding general questions from residents. The meeting starts at 6:30 pm at Delridge Library, 5423 Delridge Way SW, giving neighbors another chance to weigh in before the project moves further along in the permitting process.
