SEATTLE — Bellwether Housing and Mercy Housing Northwest will celebrate the opening of Cedar Crossing, their new 254-apartment affordable housing development at 6600 Roosevelt Way NE, this Wednesday, September 14, 2022, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM. Cedar Crossing will be home to an estimated 600 adults and children and is adjacent to the Roosevelt Link light rail station, offering unparalleled access to transit. The development also includes 13,449 sq. ft. of ground floor commercial space.
Cedar Crossing features innovative community partnerships with the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association, Sound Transit, El Centro de la Raza, Mary’s Place, and Seattle Children’s Hospital.
“This development is a beautiful example of what I call profound collaboration – a committed group of neighbors, public agencies, and housing providers listening to one another, developing a shared vision, and dedicating their time, energy and money to something transformative,” said Susan Boyd, CEO of Bellwether Housing.
Cedar Crossing creates affordable homes for families who struggle to find housing options in the current market. The building includes 91 two- and three-bedroom apartments. Three- bedroom apartments were pre-leased quickly, highlighting the intense demand for larger, affordable apartments.
A public plaza creates a sense of place in the neighborhood and provides pedestrian access to the light rail station. The building features a playground, social service offices, ground floor retail, and a large community room for celebrations and gatherings.
Mercy Housing Northwest will provide robust resident services at Cedar Crossing. Their staff will collaborate with families to identify areas of strength and create programs that support them in their housing stability.
“Mercy Housing is truly excited to be part of Cedar Crossing and helping to support the Roosevelt neighborhood. The glow we see on people’s faces when we are giving them tours of their new homes and amenities is truly priceless,” said Cole Kiser, Resident Services Manager. “The sense of joy and hope is further amplified when hearing residents talk about activities they wish to see at our event programs and how they imagine using the pavilion and community room. We foresee a powerful and purposeful future and are truly happy to be involved in building stronger neighborhoods through connection and engagement.”
El Centro de La Raza operates a 6,443 sf. multi-cultural, bilingual affordable childcare on site, with capacity to serve 68 children. The childcare was made possible through the generous support of the City of Seattle Human Services Department, the State of Washington Department of Commerce, and the Washington Community Reinvestment Association.
In a partnership with Seattle Children’s Hospital, Mary’s Place and Ronald McDonald House, 20 apartments are set aside for families experiencing housing instability whose children have received or continue to receive care at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
FamilyWorks will open a Family Resource Center, bringing complimentary services on-site and ensuring additional services vital to the health and stability of residents are available right outside families’ front doors.
Cedar Crossing was made possible by Sound Transit and the Seattle Office of Housing, who partnered by offering the property at a discounted land price and committed $15 million in funds from the Seattle Office of Housing including Seattle Housing Levy dollars. Cedar Crossing is also financed by The City of Seattle Office of Housing and Human Services Department, King County, the Seattle Housing Authority, the Washington State Department of Commerce, Umpqua Bank, Washington Community Reinvestment Association, federal low-income housing tax credits purchased by U.S. Bank CDC and a tax-exempt loan provided by U.S. Bank and Citibank.
About Bellwether Housing
Bellwether Housing is a Seattle’s largest nonprofit affordable housing provider. Bellwether has developed, owned, and operated housing for low-income individuals, families, seniors and households transitioning out of homelessness since 19802400 households in 35 buildings in King County.
About Mercy Housing Northwest
Since 1991, Mercy Housing Northwest (MHNW) has provided affordable homes to people with low incomes, including families, seniors, people who have experienced homelessness, and people with disabilities. With 54 properties in Washington and Idaho, MHNW serves more than 5,600 people every day. MHNW supplements much of its housing with Resident Services, programs that help residents build stable lives. MHNW is a regional branch of Mercy Housing, Inc. (MHI), a leading national affordable housing nonprofit headquartered in Denver, CO.
