By Katie Manzanares

Muckleshoot Tribal Vice Chairman John Daniels Jr. joined community members, project partners, and local leaders Oct. 15 in Seattle for the groundbreaking of Rainier Rising Early Learning Center, and the Mount Baker Redevelopment, a project combining affordable housing with early learning and community spaces.

The first phase will include 239 affordable rental homes near the Mount Baker light rail station. The full redevelopment is planned to provide more than 400 homes for more than 1,000 people. One-third of the homes will be reserved for households earning up to 30% of the area median income, and 60% will have two or more bedrooms. The homes are expected to remain affordable under a 99-year ground lease with the City of Seattle.

The project is being developed by El Centro de la Raza and Mercy Housing Northwest, with the University of Washington, the city, the state, and other partners. The work follows years of collaboration and community engagement that began in 2018. The site was formerly home to a UW laundry facility.

The Rainier Rising Early Learning Campus will include eight classrooms designed to serve more than 120 children from infancy through preschool. The campus will also provide professional development and training for early learning educators. Plans for the broader development include public open space, a community hub, and commercial space intended for local and BIPOC-owned businesses.

“It was an honor to be part of this important milestone celebrating community, opportunity, and a brighter future for so many families and children,” Daniels said. “Congratulations to El Centro de la Raza, Mercy Housing Northwest, and all the partners working together to make this vision a reality.”

The first phase of the redevelopment and the early learning campus are scheduled for completion by 2029.