Construction has commenced for a new affordable housing complex on the former site of an industrial laundry facility in the Rainier Valley, the Seattle Office of Housing announced this week.
The Mount Baker Redevelopment project, led by El Centro de la Raza and Mercy Housing Northwest, calls for the construction of 400 homes, an early learning center, and other community spaces. The project is broken into two phases, the first of which benefits from $40.6 mill in funding from the City of Seattle, and will bring 239 homes to the Mount Baker Link light rail station.
El Centro and Mercy Housing control the site through a $1 per year, 99-year ground lease. One third of the homes are to be reserved for renters earning no more than 30 percent of the area median income level, which will be accompanied by on-site services. Additionally, 50 percent of the apartments will have two or more bedrooms, to accommodate families.
Other members of the project team include Runberg Architecture Group, Mithun, Walsh Construction, and Beacon Development Group. The UW College of Education will develop the early learning center.
The project site at 2901 27th Ave S was previously used by the University of Washington as an industrial laundry facility.
