Bellwether Housing to Redevelop Kingway Apartments to Increase Affordable Housing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 14, 2024
Contact:
Megan Mayes
Director of Community Relations mmayes@bellwetherhousing.org | 206-428-3761
SEATTLE --- Bellwether Housing will redevelop the Kingway Apartments in the Rainier Valley to build 730 new affordable homes on the six-acre lot. Bellwether plans to begin the phased redevelopment in mid-2026, if it can secure the necessary public funding for the project. Bellwether has been operating the 164-unit property as affordable housing since 1989.
During the first phase of the project, Bellwether will replace 100 units with 270 new homes that are scheduled to open in 2028. “We are excited to build so many new transit-oriented homes.” said Susan Boyd, CEO of Bellwether. “We have planned carefully to maintain as many apartments as possible throughout the project to minimize the disruption to our current residents.” Bellwether will be working with each impacted household to help them move into alternate housing during construction. Current tenants will have priority to move into the new buildings when they are complete.
The original buildings and infrastructure were built in 1964. Bellwether examined the cost of rehabilitation of the current structures and determined that it was cost prohibitive. Given Seattle’s on-going need for affordable family housing and the financial challenges of maintaining or rehabilitating the existing buildings, Bellwether made the decision to redevelop the property. The transit-oriented community will be one block away from the new Graham Street light rail station that will be completed in 2031. It will contain new homes ranging from studio apartments to three and four bedrooms for families.
According to the Seattle Office of Housing, Seattle needs to build 112,000 new homes over the next 20 years to meet the expected demand. About 70,000 homes will be needed for the one-third of Seattle households that make less than 80% of the area median income.
Boyd added, “Ultimately, this came down to what was best for our mission of creating community by providing as many people in our community with affordable housing as possible. The new homes will be beautiful, energy efficient and financially sustainable and will dramatically increase the number of affordable homes in this community.”
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Bellwether Housing is the largest private, nonprofit affordable housing provider in Seattle. We build stable communities and access to opportunity through affordable housing. We develop and manage homes for people with limited incomes near job centers, transit, and services. We amplify our impact by helping other organizations in the Puget Sound region do the same. We envision diverse communities where people of all incomes and backgrounds share in the prosperity of our region.