Project team members at the ribbon cutting celebration. (Photo by Ronn Cunanan Meriales, courtesy SCIDpda)
We recently gathered with partners, community leaders, and residents to celebrate a major milestone – the opening of Beacon Pacific Village. An inter-generational affordable housing project located on the historic Pacific Hospital campus in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood, this development isn’t just about housing, it’s about creating a place where families and individuals can thrive.
With 160 units for households earning 50%–60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), Beacon Pacific Village aims to provide stability and community, offsetting some of the displacement in the surrounding International District, Chinatown, and Beacon Hill neighborhoods.
Beacon Pacific Village is located on the historic Pacific Hospital campus in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. (Photo by William Wright Photography)
By design, Beacon Pacific Village also delivers critical on-site services. Families have access to the Jose Marti Child Development Center, operated by El Centro de la Raza, while seniors benefit from the Ron Chew Healthy Aging and Wellness Center, managed by International Community Health Services (ICHS). This holistic approach ensures support for residents across generations, turning housing into a true community hub.
Bringing Beacon Pacific Village to life required deep collaboration. The Pacific Hospital PDA recognized the link between housing and their public health mission and saw the opportunity on an underutilized portion of their campus. The Seattle Chinatown International District PDA (SCIDpda) led the charge, managing development and community engagement, alongside Edge Developers, architect Weber Thompson, and general contractor Marpac Construction. Generous financial support came from JPMorgan Chase, Bellwether Enterprise, the City of Seattle, King County, Washington State, and Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund.
“Everyone involved is invested in the mission of providing housing that allows families of all incomes to remain part of the Seattle community. It’s this shared passion and commitment that has enabled us to stay on budget, while making choices that will provide a beautiful and sustainably built place for folks to call home.”
– Stephanie Farrell, Associate
During the ceremony, SCIDpda Co-Executive Director Jamie Lee stated, “It’s been a long journey to bring this project to life, and it’s taken the dedication of so many entities and individuals to make it a reality.”
The opening also carries a sense of justice and healing for the International District community, still affected by the bisection of I-5 through the district in the 1960s and by I-90 in the 1990s. SCIDpda worked with community partners, including CISC, Interim CDA, and Horn of Africa Services, to ensure affordable housing opportunities reach those who need them most.
(Photo by Ronn Cunanan Meriales, courtesy SCIDpda)
The thoughtful design of Beacon Pacific Village prioritizes connection, health, and wellness for its residents. The in-city location could have easily suffered from freeway and flight path noise and pollution, but triple-paned windows, Energy Recovery Ventilation, and well-insulated interior and exterior walls provide residents with thermal and acoustic comfort and healthy indoor air year-round. These same resident health “amenities” create a very green building with long-term operational savings.
The development’s central courtyard includes a large playground for childcare that can be enjoyed by residents in the off hours, bringing laughter and life to the heart of the community. Having childcare and senior care on site fosters bonds across generations and every detail, from materials to acoustics, supports both the young and the elderly. Over 20 percent of the units are family-sized, with 3- or 4-bedrooms. These units were the first to be leased, further evidence of the demand for affordable family housing in the region.
Landscape design is by Nakano Associates and interior design is by MFID.
SCIDpda plans for a second phase to the development that will include an additional 115-unit building. When Phase 2 is completed, the two six-story buildings will share outdoor common spaces with their adult care and childcare partners.
Reflecting on the excitement during the ribbon cutting ceremony, Weber Thompson appreciates that this project wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration of our project partners.
“Beacon Pacific Village isn’t just a building; it’s a promise for a stronger, more inclusive future. To every partner, supporter, and community member who made this possible—thank you.”
– Jeff Reibman, Senior Principal