Lake City Community Center Redevelopment

April 2024

The Seattle Office of Housing (OH), in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR), invites developers to submit their qualifications for the redevelopment of the Lake City Community Center. This redevelopment presents a unique opportunity to co-locate a new community center with affordable housing in an area with frequent transit, realizing multiple public benefits. Please visit: https://www.seattle.gov/housing/programs-and-initiatives/lake-city-community-center-redevelopment#rfqlakecitycommunitycenterredevelopment

Lake City Community Center closed after being significantly damaged by a fire. Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) understands the importance of programming and services that this center provides the community and worked to relocate services in tandem with planning for a new Lake City Community Center facility. 

Status and Next Steps on Providing of Recreation Programming and Services

• SPR will continue to support planned summer community special events.
• Sound Generations (https://soundgenerations.org/) programs were relocated to Lamb of God Lutheran Church, a nearby church.
• SPR will host a Summer Food Service/Summer Playground program at Little Brook Park, 14043 32nd Ave. NE, Seattle, WA 98125
• Mobile Recreation will have weekly visits to Virgil Flaim (Lake City Farmers Market), Lake City Court/Seattle Housing Authority and Children's Home Society.
• SPR is exploring opportunities to creatively serve the community’s recreation needs with the support of nearby facilities and through expanded outdoor activations and programs (leveraging the community center operations budget).
• Check the websites for other program updates https://www.seattle.gov/parks/all-community-centers/lake-city-community-center

Status and Next Steps on Current Lake City Community Center Facility

• Under an Emergency Contract, SPR hired Diverse Earthworks, Inc. to take down the fire-damaged building.  This was completed in March 2024.
• Due to code requirements, the building site will be hydroseeded for temporary erosion and sediment control and fenced.

Status and Next Steps on the Community Center Redevelopment Project

The Office of Housing (OH) issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ)  for the Lake City Community Center and Affordable Housing Co-Location Redevelopment. https://www.seattle.gov/housing/programs-and-initiatives/lake-city-community-center-redevelopment#rfqlakecitycommunitycenterredevelopment

• SPR has convened a project advisory team for the community center project and will begin to engage with the public to help guide the project.
• Please watch for engagement opportunities in June.
• The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) begins the selection process for the development team. The next step is the Request For Proposals (RFP), which will be issued in July. A development team will be selected at the beginning of 2025. Construction will begin approximately 12 months later in 2026.