Graham Street
What's Happening Now?
Thank you for joining us at the Graham Block Party on September 27, where a block of South Eddy Street was transformed into a space for connection, creativity, and community.
We brought over 300 community members together to learn about what we have been hearing through our engagement conversations, using the street space to provide different ways to interact with what we heard during our summer engagement. Attendees learned about neighborhood demographics through an interactive sculpture and lounged on oversized street furniture to listen to audio stories from neighbors and owners of small businesses. We shared out what we heard using a large map with illustrated callouts that frame our engagement with the Graham Street Neighborhood Vision, showing how our ongoing work builds on the vision already shaped by neighbors.
The Graham Block Party was also a celebration of the people, businesses, and organizations that are rooted in the Graham neighborhood. Community-based organizations, City partners, artists, and vendors helped to activate the event by showcasing program offerings, cultural performances, music, dancing, exercise classes, and live-grilling—all tuned to the sweet beats of DJ Prez Asby. We showcased local businesses by offering food, custom artwork, and raffle prizes for all attendees to enjoy, showcasing what this neighborhood has to offer. We also heard powerful remarks from community leaders speaking to the power of community development of land, coalition building as immigrant-led organizations, the importance of City investments that reflect community priorities, and how continued engagement with City departments make them feel heard and witnessed.
As we begin the second phase of this project (October 2025 to mid-2026), we are building on feedback we received during our first phase of engagement. In the coming months, we will refine the priorities we heard through focus group conversations that will inform a station area plan with community-led solutions.
About This Project
The people in the Graham neighborhood represent many cultures and spoken languages. Many generations have lived in this area for decades and new residents continue to make it 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 with light rail on the horizon. Building on several investments from our Equitable Development Initiative (EDI), cultural institutions and community organizations are anchoring in place as they prepare for the changes ahead. These EDI investments make it even more important that station area planning reflects and strengthens the City’s long-term commitment to anti-displacement and equitable growth.
We have partnered with the Seattle Department of Transportation and are working with this community to plan for the Graham neighborhood ahead of the construction of a light rail station at MLK and Graham. 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 intend to better understand and explore strategies that can improve transportation access, 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!
Project Area
Graham Street Station Area Planning focuses on areas where we expect potential changes to the neighborhood due to opportunities for increased regional access from the construction of an additional light rail station at MLK Jr Way S & S Graham St, between Columbia City and Othello stations.
The smaller area is within a half-mile walk from the proposed Graham Street Station. Through this planning process, we will focus on how land use and public amenities can support community-identified priorities.
The larger area is within a one-mile walk to Graham Street Station. This represents the area where we think a majority of future light rail riders could choose to use the proposed Graham Street Station. Through this planning process, we will identify and prioritize transportation projects to improve neighborhood access for people walking, rolling, biking, and taking transit.
Please note that the project area boundary shows the general area we are planning for, and may change as the project progresses.
Project Timeline
Phase one: Share, Learn, Vision, June 2025 - September 2025
Build on previously identified community vision to confirm priorities and goals for the community.
Phase two: Exploring Ideas, October 2025 - Mid 2026 (current phase)
Develop the priorities and goals into preliminary strategies and projects.
Phase three: Finalizing, Mid 2026 - Late 2026
Prioritize, confirm, and finalize strategies and projects into an action plan.
Project Documents
Graham Street: A Community Driven Neighborhood Vision (2019) was produced by the Graham Street Community Action Team and Puget Sound Sage.
Sound Transit’s Graham Street Station page – Sound Transit is planning to construct the station by 2031. Note that this is separate from the Graham Street Station Area Plan, which focuses on the neighborhood around the station, not the station itself.
A Graham Street Station Area Planning Phase One Progress Report is coming soon.