City of Seattle announces investment to support affordable homeownership in West Seattle

The Office of Housing awards Homestead Community Land Trust for the development of 21 permanently affordable homes at the former Dumar Substation.

The City of Seattle's Office of Housing (OH) is proud to announce a significant investment of up to $3 million in the future of affordable homeownership in West Seattle. This funding will be awarded to Homestead Community Land Trust (Homestead CLT) for the redevelopment of the former Dumar Substation site at 1605 SW Holden Street and will support the creation of 21 permanently affordable homes, marking a critical step forward in the City's ongoing efforts to provide affordable housing options for low-income families.

Homestead CLT, partnering with the Cultural Space Agency, submitted a winning proposal through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process that not only increases the supply of affordable homeownership units but also integrates ground-floor commercial space to enhance community vibrancy.

Homestead CLT's proposal garnered strong community backing, with local organizations like the Highland Park Action Committee and the Highland Park Improvement Club voicing their support. Once complete, the development will feature a four-story building with a mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom homes, all of which will be available to buyers earning at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). In addition to providing affordable homeownership opportunities, the development will also include ground-floor commercial space.

Leveraging publicly owned land for projects like this presents a unique opportunity in high-cost cities like Seattle, where creating housing that remains affordable for generations is vital. The Dumar Substation redevelopment not only provides safe, sustainable housing but also promotes economic equity, helps build generational wealth, and empowers residents to have a stronger voice in shaping their communities.

This development is a testament to the power of collaboration between public agencies, nonprofit developers, and local communities. As Seattle continues to face housing affordability challenges, developments like the Dumar Substation are essential to ensuring that all residents have access to safe, affordable, and sustainable homeownership.

What People Are Saying

Mayor Bruce Harrell
"As we continue working towards our vision of One Seattle, it's essential that we ensure affordable homeownership opportunities are accessible to families in every neighborhood. This development is an excellent example of how public land can be transformed into a lasting community asset, providing not only homes but also spaces for local businesses to thrive. This investment demonstrates our commitment to creating an inclusive city where everyone, regardless of income, can put down roots and call Seattle home for generations to come"

Council Member Rob Saka, District 1
"This homeownership project in my district's Highland Park fulfills a great need and will include affordable homes to accommodate families. This is an excellent model of transferring Seattle City Light surplus property to create permanently affordable housing. Congratulations to the partnership with Homestead Community Land Trust and Office of Housing."

Kathleen Hosfeld, CEO, Executive Director
"This property in the Highland Park neighborhood is an exciting opportunity to provide permanently affordable home ownership where there is a strong sense of place and community. We look forward to also creating affordable commercial space in response to community requests. Thank you to the City of Seattle for transferring this property for affordable housing development and community benefit."

Kay Kirkpatrick & Barb Biondo, Co-Chairs, Highland Park Action Coalition
"We have been in support of this project since our members first suggested this use of the surplus lot to City Light in 2013. It is great to hear that it is one step closer to realization. We look forward to working with Homestead CLT to help create more options for affordable housing and develop beneficial neighborhood infrastructure for the area."

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