Seattle to test new affordable housing model at Belltown building

May 24, 2026 - 02:23

The Seattle Social Housing Developer is preparing to launch a first-of-its-kind experiment in the United States at a 150-unit apartment building in the Belltown neighborhood. The project aims to prove that a new model for affordable housing can work at scale, moving beyond traditional government subsidies and nonprofit management.

Under this approach, the building will operate as a social housing development, meaning rents are set based on residents' incomes rather than market rates. The model is common in cities like Vienna and Singapore but has never been attempted on this scale in the U.S. The goal is to create a permanent mix of low-income, middle-income, and market-rate tenants living under the same roof, with the building itself owned by a public trust.

City officials say the Belltown site was chosen because of its dense urban location and existing infrastructure. The building will include a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. Rent will be capped at 30 percent of a household's income, with a sliding scale designed to keep teachers, nurses, and service workers in the neighborhood.

Construction is expected to begin next year, with the first tenants moving in by 2027. The project will be closely watched by housing advocates across the country who see it as a potential blueprint for addressing the affordability crisis. If successful, the model could be expanded to other Seattle neighborhoods and eventually to other cities.