Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson (Position 9) yesterday introduced legislation to allow workforce housing to be built near T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field to support the creation of a Stadium Makers’ District with mixed residential and light industrial uses.
“It makes no sense to exclude housing from a downtown neighborhood that holds so much promise,” Council President Nelson said. “Given the shortage of both workforce housing and local small business space, and the opportunity to create tens of thousands of new jobs, I’m proud to put forward legislation to advance the Seattle Makers’ District, an economically viable, safe, mixed-use area adjacent to the stadiums that expands light manufacturing and delivers much-needed housing.”
Nelson’s legislation, Council Bill 120933, will bring the Stadium District into conformity with the rest of the Urban Industrial (UI) zone and spur the construction of small manufacturing storefronts, which are only economically feasible to develop if they include housing above.
The legislation is supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including but not limited to labor unions, affordable housing providers, small business associations and organizations representing the adjacent Pioneer Square and Chinatown International District neighborhoods.
“Thank you to the Council for getting the legislative ball rolling on this exciting proposal to develop workforce housing and an exciting Makers’ District next to the Stadiums,” said Monty Anderson, Executive Secretary of the Seattle Building & Construction Trades Council. “This is long overdue, much-needed, and is what the community supports. Let’s get to work and get this done!”
Background
The South of Downtown neighborhood (SODO) was rezoned in 2023. The area surrounding the two sports stadiums, formally known as the Stadium Transition Area Overlay District, or “Stadium District” for short, is located in the newly designated UI zone which allows residential uses as long as half of that housing is affordable at 60-90 percent of the Area Median Income and built on site.
Although the preferred alternative of the Environmental Impact Statement that accompanied the 2023 industrial lands rezone included almost 1,000 residential units in the Stadium District, housing currently is allowed everywhere in the UI zone but the Stadium District.
What’s next
The Governance, Accountability, and Economic Development Committee will have an initial briefing and discussion of Council Bill 120933 on Friday, Jan. 24 at 9:30 a.m. The Committee is set to hold a public hearing on the bill on Monday, Feb. 24 at 9:30 a.m., followed by further briefing and discussion on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.
The Seattle City Council is the elected legislative branch of the city’s government. It’s comprised of nine councilmembers serving four-year terms and representing over 730,000 constituents — seven selected by districts and two through citywide positions. For the latest news and information, please visit seattle.gov/council.
# # #