Lake City Community Center Redevelopment
Updated: May 19, 2025
Spring 2025
The City of Seattle’s Office of Housing (OH) and Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) are excited to announce the selection of Mercy Housing to lead the redevelopment of the former Lake City Community Center. This innovative project will rebuild the community center, which was closed following a fire in 2023, and integrate it with 94+ affordable rental unites that are uniquely family focused, with a large designation of 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom units serving residents whose incomes are up to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
For more information, please visit the Lake City Community Center and Affordable Housing Co-Location Redevelopment project page.
SPR is collaborating with the Department of Neighborhoods (DON) to conduct an inclusive public outreach and collate all the input to inform the design process for this redevelopment.
Please view the Lake City Community Center Needs Assessment here.
Location
Lake City Community Center, 12531 28th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125
Schedule
Planning and Design: 2024-2026
Construction: 2027-2028
Project Description
The Lake City Community Center has been an integral part of Lake City’s neighborhood history, serving as a hub for community activities and bringing together people of all ages and cultures. In 2023, a fire destroyed a major portion of the building, and the community center was demolished.
In 2024, Seattle Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Department of Neighborhoods, conducted a building needs assessment to better understand the community’s priorities for the new center. In 2025, the city selected Mercy Housing to lead the redevelopment, which will include more than 94 affordable rental units on the upper floors and a new community center at street level. This innovative design will be the first of its kind for the City of Seattle by combining affordable housing, essential services, and shared community spaces to create a welcoming place where residents can live, gather, and thrive. Seattle Parks and Recreation, along with the Office of Housing and the Department of Neighborhoods, will continue to gather community input through public meetings to ensure the new community center meets both current and future needs of the Lake City community.
Community Participation
We will be hosting a public meeting in June to gather input on the conceptual design options for the community center. Please stay tuned to this page for engagement dates.