Seattle’s first affordable housing high-rise tower in 50 years welcomes its first residents

Homelessness is a problem with many faces. There are people who need help getting off the streets, and there are many people on limited incomes who need affordable housing, so they don’t get pushed into a cycle that can lead to homelessness. Experts say you have to work at the problem from both directions. The 17-story apartment tower in First Hill is therefore divided into two parts, each with its own entrance and lobby.

The bottom part is called "Blake House." It provides "permanent supportive housing" for seniors and veterans coming out of homelessness. It's run by a nonprofit called Plymouth Housing.

The top part is called "The Rise," and it’s for people on modest incomes, such as teachers, nurses and other health care workers. Another nonprofit, Bellwether Housing, runs this portion.

This high-rise tower wouldn’t have been possible without an unusual situation. Years ago, Sound Transit planned to put a light rail station here, on First Hill. That station was axed to save costs and Sound Transit was left with surplus property on its hands.

By law, the agency has to offer 80% of its surplus land free to affordable housing providers. But to make a project work financially on this property, those affordable housing providers would have to build a high rise. And that’s something no nonprofit was big enough yet to tackle. So Plymouth Housing partnered with Bellwether Housing.