A coalition of housing developers, community organizations, childcare providers and educators today broke ground on the Mount Baker Redevelopment and Rainier Rising Early Learning Campus. The 3.8-acre project is expected to create 400 affordable apartments, provide high-quality childcare and be home to a first-of-its-kind early childhood learning center.
By bringing affordable housing, early learning and community resources together, families will be better supported. This development, across the street from Sound Transit’s Mount Baker light-rail station, creates a unique, transit-accessible place where affordable housing and high-quality early learning exist side-by-side, with resources and partnerships designed to support children and families more holistically.
“This moment represents a major milestone in bringing a long-envisioned, community-centered project to life,” said Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson. “The partnership reflects a belief that complex challenges require us to work differently — and together. No single organization or sector can address the interconnected needs of children, families and communities alone. This project demonstrates what is possible when government, community organizations, philanthropy and the university bring their respective strengths together around shared priorities.”
The redevelopment is the result of an eight-year collaboration between the UW College of Education, the City of Seattle Office of Housing, the State of Washington, Mercy Housing Northwest and El Centro de la Raza, among others. These organizations hold a shared commitment to children and families — and a belief that supporting thriving communities requires innovative approaches that work across traditional boundaries.