Graham Street
What's Happening Now?
The Graham Street Station Area Plan will set a 20‑year vision for the neighborhoods around the future light rail station. In summer and fall 2026 we are sharing initial land use and urban design concepts for the Graham Street Station Area. These ideas reflect what we've heard from community members so far, while also imagining how the neighborhood could evolve around future light rail service in the coming decades to meet both local and citywide goals.
Graham Street Station Area Land Use and Urban Design Survey
Share your feedback by completing our community survey focused on land use, open through September 30! Your input will help shape the draft Action Plan for the Graham Street Station Area.
We will refine these neighborhood concepts through focus group conversations, surveys, and community events. We'll also work with City departments to make sure resources line up with what's needed for the Station Area Plan.
About the Project
The people in the Graham neighborhood represent many cultures and spoken languages. Generations of families have lived here, and new neighbors continue to make this area their home. It's a place where people work, play, learn, practice faith, and build community. A decade ago, the Graham community came together to envision the growth and change they wanted for their neighborhood. Building on the Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) investments, cultural institutions and community organizations are working to stay rooted as they prepare for the changes ahead. These investments show the City has already committed to supporting anti‑displacement and future planning needs to carry that commitment forward. That's why station area planning must reflect and strengthen long‑term, community‑driven stability and equitable growth.
We are partnering with the Seattle Department of Transportation, other City departments, Sound Transit, and working with community members to plan for the Graham neighborhood ahead of a future light rail station at MLK Jr Way S and S Graham St. Our planning process builds on this community's Graham Street neighborhood vision and is being developed through further engagement with community-based organizations, businesses, residents, and visitors to this area. Working collaboratively, we are exploring strategies to improve transportation access and options, support housing stability, and create welcoming public spaces that honor the cultural and intergenerational fabric of this neighborhood for generations to come.
The Graham Street Station Area Plan aims to reflect the priorities of people who live and work in the Graham neighborhood. We look forward to connecting with you!
What Is Station Area Planning?
As Sound Transit expands light rail across Seattle, the City and community members are working together to shape connected station areas that strengthen neighborhood infrastructure and improve safety, mobility, and public space.
New stations create opportunities for walkable, sustainable growth rooted in access to transit. By collaborating with neighbors, we explore how transit investments can reinforce what people value most — local culture, small businesses, gathering spaces, and everyday connections.
Station Area Planning helps communities build a shared vision by identifying priorities for growth, public space, and safety improvements. These priorities guide future infrastructure and development so each station area becomes a place where people can move easily, feel connected, and experience the cultural life of their neighborhood.
Get Involved
Share your perspective on the future of the Graham neighborhood!
We’re continuing to develop early land use and urban design concepts for the Graham Street Station Area, and community input remains essential as we move toward drafting the Action Plan. If you haven’t weighed in yet, our survey is a quick way to share what matters most to you — from housing and public spaces to access, culture, and neighborhood priorities. Help shape the next phase of planning, open through September 30.
Graham Street Station Area Planning
Graham Street Station Area Planning Background Report (December 2025)
This document describes the existing site conditions within the Graham Street Station Area.
Phase 1 Engagement Summary (December 2025)
This document describes our first phase of work to engage Graham neighbors, residents and visitors in conversations about the future of this neighborhood. It describes the feedback we heard over the course of the Spring and Summer months, which confirms and expands our understandings of this community’s priorities for how it will grow.
"What We Heard" Phase 1 Feedback Map
This map of the Graham station area illustrates feedback shared by community members during Phase 1 of our engagement (Spring - Summer 2025). A large version of this map was displayed at the Graham Block Party to share and reflect what we heard back to the community.
Graham Street: A Community Driven Neighborhood Vision (2019)
This community-driven vision for the Graham community was produced through a participatory engagement process led by the Graham Street Community Action Team and Puget Sound Sage in 2018.
Project Area
Graham Street Station Area Planning focuses on areas where we expect changes to the neighborhood from the anticipated construction of an additional light rail station at MLK Jr Way S and S Graham St, between Columbia City and Othello stations.
The area outlined in deep orange is within a half-mile walk of the future Graham Street Station. Within this half-mile, at the heart of the Graham neighborhood, we will focus on exploring how current and future land uses and public space investments can be used to anchor and support community-identified priorities and station access.
The larger area outlined in gold is within a one-mile walk to future Graham Street Station. This represents the larger area where we think most future light rail riders who choose to use Graham Street Station will be located. This larger area is helpful in identifying and prioritizing transportation projects that not only improve station access but also improve access to other neighborhoods and destinations for people walking, rolling, biking, and taking transit.
Related Projects
Office of Planning and Community Development:
- Equitable Transit Oriented Development
- Equitable Development Initiative
- Equitable Development Zoning
- One Seattle Comprehensive Plan
Seattle Department of Transportation:
- Seattle Transportation Plan
- Light Rail Expansion
- Othello and Hillman City Healthy Streets
- Hillman City Walkway Projects
Sound Transit:
Timeline
Phase One: Share, Learn, Vision (2025)
Build on previously identified community vision to confirm priorities and goals for the community.
Phase Two: Exploring Ideas (2026)
Develop community priorities and goals into preliminary strategies and projects.
- Part A: Share initial transportation project ideas.
- Part B: Share initial land use and urban design concepts.
Phase Three: Finalizing (2027)
Prioritize, confirm, and finalize strategies and projects into an Action Plan.
Project Milestones
Sound Transit Board Fully Funds Graham Street Station
The Sound Transit Board updated its ST3 System Plan in May 2026 to reaffirm funding for Graham Street Station. The project is fully funded to advance through planning, design, and construction.
Learn more about Graham Street Station by visiting Sound Transit's website.
2025 Graham Block Party
In September 2025, we brought to life a block of South Eddy Street as the Graham Block Party, turning the street into a temporary gathering place shaped by neighbors, partners, and artists. More than 300 community members joined us as we shared the progress of our engagement conversations, using interactive installations to reflect what we had heard throughout the year. People explored neighborhood demographics through an interactive sculpture, stretched out on oversized street furniture listening to audio stories from residents and small businesses, and gathered around a large, illustrated map that connected engagement work to the Graham Street Neighborhood Vision.
The event also served as a celebration of those rooted in the Graham neighborhood. Community‑based organizations, City partners, artists, and vendors filled the block, offering activities, information, and performances. Local businesses contributed goods and services for a community raffle. Throughout the afternoon, neighborhood leaders spoke about the strength of community, the coalitions built among immigrant‑led organizations, the importance of City investments that reflect community priorities, and the value of continued engagement with City departments that makes residents feel heard and recognized.
Read this Graham Block Party article by the South Seattle Emerald