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.
“Together, this project will bring affordable housing, high-quality early learning and family and community resources together in one dynamic, transit-accessible location,” said Mia Tuan, dean of the UW College of Education. “Rainier Rising Early Learning Campus creates an extraordinary opportunity to bring the UW’s world-class research and expertise in early learning into partnership with the knowledge and experience of our community partners — creating a place where research informs practice, innovation takes root and what we learn together can strengthen early learning for children and families well beyond this campus.”
Since 2018, the UW College of Education and partners across southeast Seattle have worked alongside families, educators and community leaders to imagine a space shaped by community needs and community voices. Co-designed with Rainier Valley residents, Rainier Rising Early Learning Campus (RRELC) was created to address longstanding inequities in access to affordable, high-quality childcare and preschool while centering culturally affirming, anti-racist care for children and families.
The Mount Baker Redevelopment — built in two phases — will create housing for more than 1,000 individuals. The first phase includes 239 affordable rental homes.
“The groundbreaking is an important milestone, but it is only the beginning,” said Colin Morgan-Cross, Mercy Housing Northwest. “Today, we come together to celebrate years of hard work in partnership, planning and community engagement. As we start of the next phase of work, we remain grounded in the fact that the impact of this project will be shaped not just by the buildings themselves, but by the relationships, programs and opportunities that grow from them.”
The development prioritizes affordable family living, cultural diversity and community safety. One-third of the homes will be reserved for families earning at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and a total of 60% will be family-sized homes.
Mercy Housing Northwest, together with El Centro de la Raza, are developing more than 400 units of affordable housing. The completed project will be a community that reflects the voices and rich cultural tapestry of the Mount Baker neighborhood. Rooted in the shared principles of justice, equity and partnership, this redevelopment project addresses housing affordability, enhances public spaces and creates economic opportunities for residents and local businesses.
“There is an ongoing role for the community and our broader network of partners.,” said Estela Ortega, executive director of El Centro de la Raza. “This development means a life of dignity for families in our community — access to safe and affordable housing, supportive services and the opportunity to build a better future. As this project takes shape, we invite our neighbors, community members and partners to be part of the journey, share the story, and help create a place where families feel supported, connected, and rooted in our community for generations to come.”
The $170 million Mount Baker Redevelopment funding comes from a variety of state, city and private sources.
The RRELC will be a first-of-its-kind early learning hub that will expand access to high-quality early care and education, bring research and evidence-based practices into partnership with community expertise, and strengthen the region’s early learning workforce. The space will consist of about 35,000 square feet split between two floors. An eight-classroom early learning space on the first floor is designed to serve more than 120 children from infancy through preschool. The second floor will host an ecosystem of early learning organizations who support children and families, professional development and adult learning.
What sets the RRELC apart is its integrated approach to learning, support and innovation. The campus will provide high-quality early education for local children while also serving as a training and demonstration center for educators, researchers and community partners. Through partnerships with healthcare providers, early learning organizations, and the UW, the campus will strengthen the early learning workforce, connect families to critical resources, and advance research-informed practices that can improve outcomes for children locally and nationwide.
Beyond the classroom, the RRELC will connect children and families with resources that support their health and well-being. Partners from across the UW — including UW Medicine, the School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, School of Dentistry and School of Social Work — will work alongside community partners to bring their expertise to the campus and explore new ways to support children and families.
To honor former UW President Ana Mari Cauce’s role in advancing the RRELC from vision to reality, the early learning hub will feature the Cauce Community Space, a dedicated area for families and community members to gather, learn and access resources. This flexible-use space honors Cauce’s dedicated advocacy of this project during her presidential tenure, including uplifting the critical importance of robust, culturally centered and research-informed early learning practices at the local, state and national levels. Made possible through a gift from the Bezos Family Foundation, the Cauce Community Space will expand the RRELC’s holistic support to families and community members in Rainier Valley.
Additionally, the UW College of Education’s Cultivate Learning will bring its expertise in early childhood professional learning, coaching and quality improvement to the campus, creating opportunities for early learning educators to build their skills and learn promising practices. Cultivate Learning will occupy part of the second floor and facilitate classroom learning sessions and trainings for students and in-service professionals, and will amplify results to education leaders nationwide.
The RRELC’s total cost came to about $36 million with funds that were secured through a braided effort of philanthropy, federal, state, county and city resources. These costs are in addition to the funding for the Mount Baker Redevelopment.
In addition to housing and the RRELC, the development will include:
- Public Spaces: A 20,000-square-foot open space as the centerpiece of the development, fostering connection with the community and outdoor play and activities.
- Community Hub: 6,000-square-foot space for events, cultural programming, and services to support the residents and celebrate the neighborhood’s diversity.
- Support for Local Businesses: 4,000 square feet of commercial spaces designed to uplift BIPOC-owned and locally owned businesses.
- Climate Resiliency: Green design features include advanced stormwater management and beyond-code environmental practices.
The Mount Baker Redevelopment Project phase one and the RRELC is scheduled for completion by 2029. The architect for the Mount Baker Redevelopment is Runberg Architecture Group. Beacon Development Group is the developer consultant and Walsh Construction is the builder. For the RRELC, the architect is Mithun and Walsh Construction is the builder.