Partner Media Release

Closing on construction financing, groundbreaking for 156 affordable homes designed for families 

Seattle, WA – Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) and Community Roots Housing (CRH) have closed on the construction financing for Yesler Family Housing, a new home designed for families at the intersection of 13th Avenue and E. Yesler Way.

Financing for the project, a mixed‐use building with 156 units of affordable apartments and childcare, closed on May 15, 2021. The project broke ground on May 19, 2021 and will be completed in early 2023.

The project will bring family‐sized replacement housing for returning and current Yesler residents, as well as those in the area with affordable housing needs. All 156 homes (including 25 three‐bedroom and seven four‐bedroom units) will be reserved for households with incomes at either 30% or 60% of Area Median Income (AMI).  

The building will also be a home for family‐oriented services including common areas for resident gatherings, exterior courtyards for childcare, and community gardens. The Denise Louie Education Center will operate the 8,400 square‐foot childcare and early learning center on the ground floor. 2,500 square‐feet of retail space will be held for community‐based businesses in the Central Area (Little Saigon, Yesler, Central District).

“We are excited to break ground on a project that will foster a community of families near transit, jobs, healthcare, education, and cultural amenities in an area where many of the surrounding neighborhoods have been designated as high risk of displacement and high access to opportunity,” said Maiko Winkler‐ Chin, Executive Director at SCIDpda.

SCIDpda is an organization with a history of providing culturally competent services to immigrant and refugee populations. It is the primary owner and property manager for the project and leads on community engagement efforts. As co‐owner and co‐developer, Community Roots Housing supports the project with asset management, finance, and administrative services. Mithun is the architect and Marpac Construction is the general contractor. This development is made possible through a partnership between the Seattle Housing Authority (the landowner and a project funder), the Seattle Office of Housing, Seattle Human Services Department, the Department of Commerce’s Early Learning Facilities, and the development team of SCIDpda and Community Roots. Construction financing is provided by Capital One and JPMorgan Chase, and equity is provided by Hudson Housing Capital.

SCIDpda’s last development projects were International Village Square (IDVS) 1 and 2 completed in 2004, two projects which transformed the southern edge of the Chinatown International District (CID). They included the first affordable housing in the CID designed for families. Yesler Family Housing’s three‐  and four‐ bedroom units continue SCIDpda’s legacy of developing projects that serve the needs and demographics of the area. 

Media Contact:

Joseph Guanlao, 206‐334‐2548, joseph@scidpda.org