Work Begins on Low-Income Housing Facility

The project was initiated by Emerald City Bible Fellowship, an Evangelical Covenant Church congregation.

Artist's rendering

The building is being constructed on the north side of Emerald City’s property. Urban Impact, the nonprofit community development arm of Emerald City, is sponsoring the project in conjunction with Mercy Housing, a multi-state nonprofit entity that provides ongoing services.

The 61-unit facility will be entirely occupied by qualified low-income families and individuals at a rental rate between 30 to 60 percent of market price.

Among these units, 46 will have two or three bedrooms for larger families, and 12 units will accommodate families who have members with disabilities. The building also will include 5,800 square feet of commercial space that will become home to the nonprofit Rainier Health & Fitness Center.

The affordable community fitness center already serves 1,000 people and organizers hope to expand that to 1,600 members. The center partners with Urban Impact to help the people of the Rainier Valley battle health issues that contribute to the cycle of poverty.

Last year, the City of Seattle and the Washington Housing Trust Fund awarded Urban Impact a $5.9 million grant for the project. In announcing the grant, Mayor Mike McGinn said, “We continue to see the impact of the economic recession as more individuals and families are finding themselves struggling to afford housing. The city’s investment will provide affordable apartments while creating living-wage construction and building operation and maintenance jobs.”

Nearly 200 people attended the groundbreaking. Participants included church members, representatives from other nonprofit organizations, neighbors, and bank and government representatives.

Pastor Harvey Drake says the congregation’s desire has always been to develop the resource for its neighbors.