Construction Starts at Seattle Mount Baker Redevelopment

Work is underway on a major project featuring 400 affordable apartments and a new early learning campus.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Construction

Skeletal steel building frame rising above bare ground with a distant crane under an overcast sky. — Seattle officials have begun construction on the Mount Baker Redevelopment, a 3.8-acre project slated to provide 400 affordable apartments. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Seattle has officially launched construction on the Mount Baker Redevelopment and the Rainier Rising Early Learning Campus. This project aims to house more than 1,000 residents on a 3.8-acre site.

Why it matters

The development is designed to address the interconnected needs of local children, families, and the surrounding community. By combining housing with early childhood education, it seeks to create a holistic support system for area residents.

The $170 million housing project includes 400 affordable units on a 3.8-acre site, with 60% of homes designated as family-sized. Additionally, the $36 million early learning facility will serve more than 120 children.

The players

Walsh Construction

This firm is the builder responsible for constructing both the housing development and the early learning campus.

Mercy Housing Northwest

This nonprofit organization is a key collaborator in the project, specializing in the development of affordable housing units.

El Centro de la Raza

This Seattle-based community center is a lead partner in the redevelopment, focusing on providing services to local families.

University of Washington

This public research university is participating in the collaborative effort to address local housing and education needs.

The details

The project is a collaborative effort between the University of Washington, the City of Seattle, the State of Washington, Mercy Housing Northwest, and El Centro de la Raza. Builders are utilizing two delivery phases to complete the housing, which includes 20,000 square feet of public open space.

Project planning with community members began in 2018.
Construction work started in October 2026.
Phase one and the early learning campus are scheduled for completion by 2029.

Market Landscape

This development reflects a growing trend in urban planning to integrate essential public services like early childhood education into high-density affordable housing. It positions the project as a model for addressing interconnected social infrastructure needs in competitive real estate markets.

Local families will eventually gain access to 400 new affordable apartments and a specialized early learning facility that supports over 120 children. Residents should expect construction activity at the Mount Baker site to continue through the 2029 completion date for phase one.

The takeaway

This project emphasizes the value of co-locating residential housing with educational resources to maximize community impact. Residents looking for affordable housing may benefit from monitoring local municipal channels for future application windows as construction progresses.