Sound Transit owns a property at 1000 NE 45th Street in Seattle’s U District, about two blocks from U District Station, which we used during Northgate Link light rail construction.
Now we’re making this property near the core of the U District available for transit-oriented development, which could include housing, retail, office and/or community space.
Project updates
In 2021, we worked to learn more about the community’s aspirations for TOD near our new U District station, and we heard strong support for maximizing affordable housing for families and individuals in this high opportunity neighborhood in very close proximity to the station.
You can read the public feedback we gathered throughout our engagement process in our Community Engagement Report (see the Documents section on this page for summaries in four languages).
In 2022, the Sound Transit Board of Directors directed staff to offer the site for affordable housing development. You can read the Board’s action here.
Ongoing work
In partnership with the Seattle Office of Housing, we’re preparing a development strategy and goals for affordable housing outcomes.
We’re also working collaboratively with the city to analyze the feasibility of reconfiguring the alley that runs through the site to create one building footprint and increase the site’s development capacity. We submitted a petition to partially vacate the alley and will continue to work with the city in 2023; this process will culminate in a decision on the vacation by the Seattle City Council.
Once a decision on the alley vacation petition is made, we’ll select a development partner or partners using a competitive bidding process (request for proposals, or 'RFP').
Upcoming milestones*
- Winter/Spring 2023 – work with City staff to define affordable housing goals and prepare for partial alley vacation process
- Summer 2023 – Partial alley vacation public hearing (tentative)
- Fall/Winter 2023 – release Request for Proposals (tentative)
* Note: Milestone dates are subject to change
Project facts
- Size: Approximately 18,000 square feet, or about the size of six tennis courts
- Opening date: To be determined
- Construction start: 2025 (target)
- Affordability: To be determined
Temporary use: Tiny home village
While we prepare for permanent development on the U District 45th & Roosevelt TOD site, Sound Transit has leased the property to the City of Seattle at no cost for use as a temporary tiny house village. The one-year lease term can be extended through 2024.
The village provides 36 furnished residential units and houses up to 65 people experiencing homelessness. Rosie’s Tiny Home Village is overseen by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority and operated by the Low Income Housing Institute. A community advisory committee supports the success of the village. Contact Josh Castle at LIHI to get involved.