July 15, 2025

In Redmond, Plymouth takes a detour to the Hearing Examiner

Rendering by Stephen Collison, Pixel-Head Studio, for Environmental Works [enlarge]

This view looks southeast at the project, with the alley at right.

Plymouth Housing once had a well-advanced plan for a permanent supportive housing project in Kenmore, on land owned by the city. A public backlash prompted the City Council to reject the proposal. Fine, said the city of Redmond in response, come over to the Eastside and build it here.

That's just what Plymouth and its architect, Environmental Works, did. Again targeting a city-owned property, at 16725 Cleveland St., their six-story, 100-unit proposal has Walsh Construction attached as the builder. SEPA approval came this spring. Final permits are within reach.

Then, in an all-too-familiar pattern, the neighbors complained. Thus the matter went before the city Hearing Examiner just before the Fourth of July weekend. There's not yet been a decision.

Plymouth's intended site, once home to the Motley Zoo Animal Rescue building, is a few steps east of Downtown Redmond Station. Two bus lines also have a stop there. By foot, the Safeway is 10 minutes to the west, with an array of other shops and services nearby. Downtown Redmond has become, in recent years, surprisingly walkable.

People living in supportive housing typically don't drive or own cars. Most are poor and/or disabled. The project will house individuals earning up to 30% of area median income — and often less. Some future residents will be transitioning out of homelessness. So, intended mainly for staff, the project has four surface parking stalls on the west alley.

Three citizens raised the same SEPA objection to the Redmond project: that it lacked enough parking. The city's SEPA determination in April was immediately followed by the appeal.

Plymouth had, during the past few years of planning, requested a parking reduction. The city approved that change, prior to the SEPA decision, and a reduction in bike parking to 14 racks outside the building.

If their appeal is denied, the appellants could continue their efforts in state court. (Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson represented Plymouth before the Hearing Examiner.) If they opt out of costly litigation, with the city's SEPA determination of non-significance upheld, that would clear the path to building. But no timeline has been announced, of course.

Plymouth's funding sources are expected to include Microsoft, the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, the city (which will donate the land), the state Department of Commerce, state Housing Finance Commission, A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH, also the onsite building manager) and private donors.

Apart from the housing and staff areas, the building also features a cafe on its south end, with outdoor seating also facing the Redmond Central Connector trail and Northeast 76th Street. The north end, on Cleveland, may have another cafe-style area for residents.