Seattle mayor wants more housing at Fort Lawton

Mayor Bruce Harrell wants to add more dense housing to Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood.

Harrell now wants up to 500 units at the Fort Lawton site near Discovery Park. That's more than double the city's current plans for that location, which were initially developed in 2019. But the mayor's office says that a 2022 assessment of the property concludes that it will require considerable infrastructure upgrades.

“The scale of our affordability and homelessness crises requires us to make the wisest possible use of our limited housing dollars in order to achieve the largest possible impact,” Harrell said in a statement. “In a city of 84 square miles, the Fort Lawton Redevelopment Plan is a unique opportunity to transform 34 underutilized acres into a new community that will last for generations — we must make the most of it. This is our One Seattle vision in action — a city with affordable homes and communities where every Seattle neighbor can access the good jobs, schools, and supports needed to grow and succeed.”

The mayor's office says that building more units will translate to a lower per-unit price tag, and help cover infrastructure costs for the project.

Fort Lawton is a former military site, which is still owned by the Army. The proposal includes affordable housing, and permanent supportive housing for vets and seniors who have experienced homelessness.

Density advocates say that the site could add even more housing. Neighborhood critics have called for the entire site to be dedicated as park land. The mayor wants to preserve 22 acres for open space and park projects.

The City Council still needs to approve the plan. So far, Councilmembers Cathy Moore and Dan Strauss have voiced their support for the increased housing.

"As the incoming chair of the Housing and Human Services Committee, I applaud Mayor Harrell’s proactive approach to increasing desperately needed affordable housing as well as permanent supportive housing in our city," Moore said in a statement. "I look forward to Council’s review of the amended redevelopment plan and working with all stakeholders to bring this project to fruition."