Seattle is putting money behind small, for-sale affordable projects in five neighborhoods.
The Seattle Office of Housing announced Oct. 21 that it picked five developments for $13.65 million from its 2026 Homeownership Notice of Funding Availability. Together they'll create 77 permanently affordable homes for buyers earning up to 80% of area median income, according to the city's announcement.
"Too many people who work and raise their families here have been priced out," said Mayor Katie B. Wilson.
The five projects
- Central Area, 115 and 119 23rd Ave.: Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties and the Central Area Youth Association plan 32 condos (7 studios, 6 one-bedrooms and 19 two-bedrooms) with a ground-floor community center for CAYA.
- Delridge, 5005 Delridge Way SW: Habitat's Puget Park Flats, 29 condos with 17 two-bedroom and 12 three-bedroom units.
- Highland Park, 8844 10th Ave. SW: Habitat, six four-bedroom townhomes.
- Lake City, 13515 27th Ave. NE: Habitat, six four-bedroom townhomes.
- Rainier View, 11174 Beacon Ave. S: Homestead Community Land Trust, four three-bedroom townhomes.
That's 61 condos and 16 townhomes. The city didn't say how the $13.65 million is split among the projects or when construction will start.
One lot, four homes
The Rainier View project is a small example of getting more homes out of the same land. Homestead CEO Kathleen Hosfeld said the award lets the land trust "turn one permanently affordable home into four" on land it already holds in trust.
The "permanently affordable" part matters too. Homes like these are typically sold with resale limits that keep them affordable for the next buyer, which is why the city is funding them as long-term housing stock.
Why it matters for Contractors
These are small jobs, but there are five of them, and four belong to one owner: Habitat. Habitat affiliates often pair volunteer crews with paid subcontractors for specialty trades. Smaller Seattle contractors who can handle a six-townhome job or a 30-unit condo building should get in touch with Habitat Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties now.
The 29- and 32-condo buildings are real mid-size multifamily jobs. With funding committed, design and permitting come next. GCs and subs who want in should watch for those projects to go out to bid.