Seattle’s rents have been soaring in recent years, changing the face of many of its most beloved and diverse neighborhoods.
As revitalization and redevelopment inject new life into areas rich in amenities such as rapid transit, good schools, employment and retail, long-time low- and middle-income workers are often priced out of their homes.
In Beacon Hill, one organization has put a stake in the ground for affordability. El Centro de la Raza began construction on the long-planned Plaza Roberto Maestas (PRM), a community-inspired development that will provide affordable homes, retail space and a village center in a neighborhood threatened by rapid gentrification.
The building will provide 112 affordable apartments ranging in monthly rents from $487 for one bedroom to $1,290 for a three bedrooms.
This housing is located just a block away from market-rate one-bedroom apartments going for more than $1,500 per month. PRM’s location will allow its residents convenient, affordable access to education, jobs, training and other resources.