The 84-unit development on the historic site of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church provides much-needed affordable housing in Seattle’s vibrant Ballard neighborhood
SEATTLE, Wash. (April 9, 2026) – BRIDGE Housing, the leading nonprofit affordable housing developer on the West Coast, was joined by elected officials, Episcopal church leaders, partners, and community members today to celebrate the grand opening of St. Luke’s Apartments, an 84-unit affordable housing community in Seattle’s dynamic Ballard neighborhood.
Located on the historic site of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the eight-story building provides studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment homes that are affordable for families earning up to 60% of the Area Median Income. Amenities include a community room, bike storage, comprehensive resident services, laundry facilities on each floor, and a rooftop deck and play area.
St. Luke’s is the first affordable housing development in Ballard in more than 20 years and is the result of a community-driven effort to bring new affordable family apartments to this flourishing, walkable area of Seattle. Residents have convenient access to the neighborhood’s many amenities, including stores, restaurants, and Ballard Commons Park, as well as high-frequency bus service to downtown Seattle and the University of Washington.
“This beautiful affordable housing community exemplifies the innovative solutions that are possible when mission-driven partners work together,” said BRIDGE Housing President and CEO Ken Lombard. “As we continue to expand in the Seattle area, BRIDGE is honored to develop a project that has received so much local support and will enable St. Luke’s residents and the Ballard community to thrive together.”
“The opening of St. Luke’s Apartments in Ballard marks an important milestone for affordable housing in Seattle, continuing BRIDGE Housing’s 43-year tradition of improving lives and strengthening communities,” said Kenneth Novack, Chairman of BRIDGE Housing’s Board of Directors. “We deeply appreciate the wide support this project has received from the Diocese, the St. Luke’s parish, local and state governments, and our many other partners.”
St. Luke’s is one of the first projects to be completed under a 2021 Seattle ordinance that incentivized new affordable housing on properties owned by religious organizations by allowing developers to build more units and taller buildings than normally allowed by zoning rules. BRIDGE Housing paid upfront for a 99-year lease from the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, which has owned St. Luke’s since the congregation was founded in 1891, to develop the residential tower on the site of a former community garden.
“The Diocese, St. Luke’s clergy, and our congregants have enthusiastically supported this project as part of our mission to prevent homelessness and provide much-needed housing for working families,” said The Right Reverend Philip N. LaBelle, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. “We are grateful for BRIDGE Housing’s partnership in reimagining these grounds to create a true community asset for Ballard.”
“Tackling Seattle’s affordable housing crisis takes all of us, and today’s project reflects what’s possible when public, private, faith-based, and community partners come together,” said Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson. “St. Luke’s will create new opportunities for working families, expanding access to jobs, transit, recreation, and the resources people need to live and stay in Seattle.”
“I have been working with St. Luke’s to bring this desperately needed family affordable housing to Ballard since my first days in office. Families need two and three-bedroom apartments, and Ballard needs apartments families can afford,” said City Councilmember Dan Strauss. “In 2021, I sponsored legislation to allow more churches and religious organizations to build affordable housing, and that legislation allowed this project to thrive. I cannot express how proud and excited I am for this dream to become a reality.”
The festive ribbon-cutting was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Seattle Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt, King County Council Member Jorge Barón, City Councilmember Dan Strauss, City Councilmember Dionne Foster, City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck, and Emily Stone, Housing Policy Advisor to Washington Governor Bob Ferguson. Other attendees included local housing officials, community partners, St. Luke’s congregants, and residents.
Financial partners for the project include the Seattle Office of Housing, Seattle Housing Authority, Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and JPMorgan Chase. UnitedHealth Group was one of the largest private investors in St. Luke’s, with an equity investment administered through a partnership with National Affordable Housing Trust and Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future. UnitedHealth also announced a $108,000 grant to enhance on-site resident services, which are being provided by local nonprofit FamilyWorks. The two-year grant will fund programs focused on family support, benefits navigation, and food resources, including cooking classes and budgeting workshops.
“UnitedHealth Group recognizes that access to safe, affordable housing, paired with resident-focused services, has a direct impact on health and quality of life,” said Dr. Phil Capp, Chief Medical Officer, Optum Pacific Northwest, part of UnitedHealth Group. “By investing in both housing and services that help residents stay connected to care and essential resources, we’re supporting long-term stability and better health outcomes for the residents who call St. Luke’s home.”
“We’re proud to help finance St. Luke’s Apartments, bringing 84 affordable homes to families in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood,” said Bob Powers, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan Community Development Banking. “At J.P. Morgan, our affordable housing investment work is rooted in the idea that strong communities create opportunity. St. Luke’s Apartments is the result of a strong public-private partnership and a community-driven effort, offering families access to quality homes, essential services, and neighborhood amenities.”
St. Luke’s Apartments is part of a broader redevelopment of the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church property. A second eight-story building will have market-rate and workforce housing, as well as a new church space which will include a sanctuary and space for programming. The Reverend Canon Britt Olson, St. Luke’s Vicar, said the church and its congregants rallied around the project, even donating furniture and money to cover application costs for tenants.
“The vision of St. Luke’s redevelopment is ‘Building a Place Where Love Dwells.’ As we work together to meet the growing needs for food, housing, and affordable childcare, we see a neighborhood that is becoming more diverse and inclusive,” Olson said. “BRIDGE Housing and our other partners are helping to make this possible. St. Luke’s has been here for 100 years and with God’s help, we will be here for the next 100.”
BRIDGE Housing currently has over 1,200 apartments open or under development in King County as part of its portfolio exceeding 15,500 apartments across Washington, Oregon and California.
The need for additional affordable housing in the region is significant. Only 23 housing units are available and affordable for every 100 extremely low-income households in King County, according to County data. Seven out of 10 low-income households are considered cost-burdened, meaning they spend at least 30% of their income on housing.
“Living at St. Luke’s has allowed my family to focus on building our lives instead of constantly worrying whether we can stay afloat,” said resident Thomas Penix, 24, an artist and writer whose son recently celebrated his first birthday in the St. Luke’s community room. “For the first time, we’re not just getting by – we are moving forward. The difference has been life-changing.”
St. Luke’s was designed by VIA Architecture, and Exxel Pacific served as general contractor.
About BRIDGE Housing
BRIDGE Housing Corporation is a leading nonprofit owner, developer, and manager of high-quality affordable housing on the West Coast, with a mission to strengthen communities and improve lives. Founded in 1983, BRIDGE Housing has participated in the creation of more than 23,000 affordable homes in California, Oregon, and Washington, with a total development cost of $6.8 billion. Its current $5 billion portfolio totals more than 15,500 apartments that are home to nearly 34,000 residents, with more than 8,000 additional units in the development and acquisition pipelines. For more information, visit https://bridgehousing.com/.
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