Community engagement is central to our affordable housing development process.  

To hear from the community directly, we recently held three outreach events at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, the Central District Rotary Club, and Lowell Elementary Boys and Girls Club.

Common themes from this engagement quickly emerged. People want access to social services above everything else, followed by social activities and green spaces. They want culturally competent services and harm-reduction support from day one, not as an afterthought. We also heard an urgent request for maternal and family support, including dedicated pathways to units and services for pregnant mothers facing specific challenges.

Transit access kept coming up as both a neighbor concern and a make-or-break factor for resident success, shaping whether people can integrate into the community and reach essential services. Climate resilience surfaced too, with requests for functional air conditioning and proactive condenser replacement before systems fail.

Finally, feedback highlighted the need to map this new site and its programming against successful local frameworks, such as Plymouth Housing and the Hobart High-Rise model. Given the systemic bottlenecks in the current regional referral system, designing more direct, efficient pathways at 1501 Tenth could make a real difference.

As Seattle faces rising housing costs and displacement pressures, people are excited to learn about affordable housing coming to Capitol Hill.

Survey feedback so far:‍

• "This proposed project addresses some of the deepest problems facing our city, like affordable housing access and generational housing injustice. I only hope that it can make a meaningful impact."
• "We desperately need affordable housing, and it appears that you are also committed to sustainability and creating a supportive community for residents. I love it!"
• "I can't wait to see more homes being built for families in the neighborhood. We need more affordable housing in Capitol Hill, and this will be a great addition".

Building for the long term with the community in mind

What makes 1501 Tenth different is its focus on long-term community benefit. The development will combine adaptive reuse of the historic St. Nicholas School with new residential construction, creating a community-centered space that celebrates and respects the neighborhood's heritage.

"Preservation of a historic structure while incorporating human and community needs is a balance rarely seen in new projects, but this project tackles these issues with vigor," one survey respondent reflected.

But housing alone isn't enough. "Third places" where people connect outside of home and work are just as important for building healthy communities.

A Third Place can include community rooms, gardens, cultural venues, public plazas, art studios, cafés, or flexible areas for events and services. These amenities help foster a sense of belonging, reduce isolation, and strengthen relationships between residents and the surrounding neighborhood.

Now is the time that we need to hear from you to shape future amenities, programming, and the role this development plays in Capitol Hill.  

Take our community survey today!

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