July 25, 2022

Chief Seattle Club breaks ground in Lake City on Sacred Medicine House

Rendering by Rolluda Architects [enlarge]

Rolluda Architects designed the project, which will feature an external mural by artist Andrew Morrison.

Chief Seattle Club has broken ground on Sacred Medicine House, a 120-unit permanent supportive housing development that will serve formerly homeless Native and Indigenous community members.

The development, at 14315 Lake City Way N.E., will have four residential floors with 117 studio units for the formerly homeless and individuals earning up to 50% of area median income. Three units will be reserved for on-site community managers. In addition, the development will have approximately 11,100 square feet of ground floor common area and on-site supportive service space along with an outdoor central courtyard.

The property will have 24/7 on-site staffing and 10 parking spaces for support staff. Interiors will be decorated with Native designs from artists at Eighth Generation — a Seattle-based art and lifestyle brand owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe.

In a press release, Chief Seattle Club described the project as “a place of healing that will provide housing in a trauma-informed, culturally appropriate and holistic model centered on building community and fostering a sense of belonging.”

“Our goal is to not only provide a safe place to live, but the space to pray and gather, and be part of a community,” Derrick Belgarde, executive director of Chief Seattle Club, said in the release. “Many relatives have been displaced from their tribal communities, either through forced federal relocation programs, or disconnection from family. Our housing and shelter developments focus on creating a sense of belonging and connection.”

Chief Seattle Club is aiming to complete the project by the end of next year. The development team includes Lotus Development Partners, project and construction manager; BNBuilders, general contractor; Rolluda Architects, project architect; I.L. Gross, structural engineer; KPFF, civil engineer; Wood Harbinger, electrical engineer; The West Studio, landscape architect; BEE, envelope; Emerald Aire, mechanical; and SJS, plumbing. Indigenous design elements are provided by Jones and Jones Architects.

Funding support comes from the Seattle Housing Levy, King County, the Washington State Housing Trust Fund, tax credits from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Raymond James Tax Credit Fund, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Impact Capital and Enterprise Community Partners. Funding for Indigenous art improvements will be provided by grants from Communities of Concern and the Native Design Northwest Collective. The project will also be sustained with significant operating subsidy from the King County Health Through Housing Fund.