Mayor Bruce Harrell recently announced that the City of Seattle is advancing efforts to develop an improved redevelopment plan for increased affordable housing at Fort Lawton, a former military installation currently owned by the U.S Army (Army) and is available at a significantly discounted land cost for dedicated use as affordable housing or parks.
The proposed plan — which is an update to a 2019 plan — will include rental units, workforce housing, homeownership opportunities, as well as permanent supportive housing for veterans and seniors who have experienced homelessness. The City will be working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Army as it seeks to move forward on this proposed revision.
“The scale of our affordability and homelessness crises requires us to make the wisest possible use of our limited housing dollars in order to achieve the largest possible impact,” said Harrell. “In a city of 84 square miles, the Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan is a unique opportunity to transform 34 into a new community that will last for generations – we must make the most of it. This is our One Seattle vision in action – a city with affordable homes and communities where every Seattle neighbor can access the good jobs, schools, and supports needed to grow and succeed.”
Building on an earlier redevelopment plan that was approved by City Council in 2019 and then delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, an improved plan would build as many as 500 units of affordable housing, optimizing the number of affordable homes to address Seattle’s housing crisis.
These additional units offset some of the considerable infrastructure costs required for the project while maintaining 22 acres for open space, parkland, and wildlife conservation adjacent to Seattle’s majestic Discovery Park.
Some of the developers for this plan include Catholic Housing Services and Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King and Kittitas Counties and United Indians of All Tribes will be the service provider for the permanent supportive housing at Fort Lawton. The plan would use previously approved zoning capacity to bring affordable housing to the Magnolia area, providing access to housing, education, retail, and employment opportunities not typically available in this neighborhood to lower income families and individuals.
“Ensuring that everyone in Washington state can keep a roof over their head has been, and continues to be, one of my top priorities,” says Senator Patty Murray. “We have a real housing crisis on our hands, and I am laser focused on boosting our affordable housing supply across the state. The Fort Lawton project is a promising one and could make the world of a difference to hundreds of Seattle families. I look forward to reviewing the city’s plan and continuing to work with HUD as they review this application.”
Kenneth Pittman, Associate Director of Operations for Catholic Community Services, believes that the initiative is a step in the right direction.
“We are grateful for the city’s continued exploration to provide affordable housing opportunities,” says Pittman. “And we look forward to working with the city, state, and federal partners to address this important need.”
Harrell began working with City departments and outside consultants after taking office in 2022 to analyze infrastructure needs and costs for the 2019 Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan. The property requires major infrastructure construction, demolition of unsafe buildings, and upgrades to roads, power, water, and sewers – challenges that have been a leading cause of planning and project delays over the years. The additional analysis conducted by the City since 2022 revealed opportunities to reduce per-unit infrastructure costs not only by increasing the number of units but by altering the approach to street and other infrastructure improvements.
Approval of the new plan is required by the City Council, as well as from the federal government for the land transfer to the City. A new Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement process will be conducted, with opportunity for public comment, followed by the Office of Housing submitting the amended redevelopment plan to City Council and to HUD. The City expects to begin infrastructure design and construction in the second half of 2025, after completion of the processes outlined above and a request for proposals for infrastructure work in the second quarter of 2025.
“Our community is facing a major housing shortage amid devastating housing price hikes – in fact, it’s estimated that King County will need 17,000 new homes built annually to meet demand,” says U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). “I applaud this federal and local partnership that is working to bring much needed homes to our community. We must use all resources possible to ensure that every person has a roof over their head.”
