BRIDGE Housing has opened an 84-unit affordable housing community on the site of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Seattle.
Serving residents earning up to 60% of the area median income, the eight-story building is the first affordable housing development in the Ballard neighborhood in more than 20 years, according to officials.
“This beautiful affordable housing community exemplifies the innovative solutions that are possible when mission-driven partners work together,” said BRIDGE Housing president and CEO Ken Lombard. “As we continue to expand in the Seattle area, BRIDGE is honored to develop a project that has received so much local support and will enable St. Luke’s residents and the Ballard community to thrive together.”
St. Luke’s Apartments is one of the first projects to be completed under a 2021 Seattle ordinance that incentivized new affordable housing on properties owned by religious organizations by allowing developers to build more units and taller buildings than normally allowed by zoning rules. BRIDGE Housing paid upfront for a 99-year lease from the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, which has owned St. Luke’s since the congregation was founded in 1891, to develop the homes on the site of a former community garden.
“The Diocese, St. Luke’s clergy, and our congregants have enthusiastically supported this project as part of our mission to prevent homelessness and provide much-needed housing for working families,” said Philip N. LaBelle, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. “We are grateful for BRIDGE Housing’s partnership in reimagining these grounds to create a true community asset for Ballard.
The church and its congregants rallied around the project, even donating furniture and money to cover application costs for tenants.
“Living at St. Luke’s has allowed my family to focus on building our lives instead of constantly worrying whether we can stay afloat,” said resident Thomas Penix, 24, an artist and writer whose son recently celebrated his first birthday in the St. Luke’s community room. “For the first time, we’re not just getting by—we are moving forward. The difference has been life-changing.”
Financial partners for the $52.3 million project include the Seattle Office of Housing, Seattle Housing Authority, Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and J.P. Morgan. UnitedHealth Group was one of the largest private investors in St. Luke’s, with an equity investment administered through a partnership with National Affordable Housing Trust and Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future. UnitedHealth also announced a $108,000 grant to enhance on-site resident services, which are being provided by local nonprofit FamilyWorks. The two-year grant will fund programs focused on family support, benefits navigation, and food resources, including cooking classes and budgeting workshops.
“UnitedHealth Group recognizes that access to safe, affordable housing, paired with resident-focused services, has a direct impact on health and quality of life,” said Dr. Phil Capp, chief medical officer at Optum Pacific Northwest, part of UnitedHealth Group. “By investing in both housing and services that help residents stay connected to care and essential resources, we’re supporting long-term stability and better health outcomes for the residents who call St. Luke’s home.”
St. Luke’s was designed by VIA Architecture, and Exxel Pacific served as general contractor.
BRIDGE Housing, a leading West Coast affordable housing developer and owner, has more than 1,200 apartments open or under development in King County as part of its portfolio exceeding 15,500 apartments across Washington, Oregon, and California.