Bellwether Housing and Chief Seattle Club are moving forward with plans for a 200-unit affordable multifamily community in Seattle, focusing on the Licton Springs neighborhood of North Seattle. The partners intend to develop the project, known as Thunderbird Nest, on a vacant parcel located at 9250 College Way N., which is currently associated with North Seattle College.
The planned community is designed to add a substantial number of larger affordable apartments to the area, with most of the homes expected to be two-, three- and four-bedroom units. This mix is aimed at accommodating larger households within an underserved segment of the rental market, according to details reported by the Puget Sound Business Journal. The project is scheduled for delivery in 2029, positioning it as part of the next wave of affordable housing stock in the city.
The total construction cost for Thunderbird Nest is estimated at $74.5 million. The development will rise on land that is being sold by North Seattle College to the two organizations. In June 2024, the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges approved the sale of the site at 9250 College Way N. to Bellwether Housing and Chief Seattle Club for $7.1 million, clearing a key administrative hurdle for the project to advance.
The project’s capital stack is expected to rely heavily on public and mission-driven sources. Funding for Thunderbird Nest would be provided by the Seattle Office of Housing, the King County Department of Community and Human Services and the Washington State Housing Trust Fund. These contributions underscore the role of local and state agencies in supporting the delivery of new income-restricted housing in Seattle, particularly in collaboration with established nonprofit and affordable housing organizations.
Chief Seattle Club’s role extends beyond development partnership and into ongoing resident support. The organization plans to offer both on-site and off-site services tailored to Native American and Alaska Native communities. These services are described as culturally responsive, indicating that the project is intended not only to expand the city’s affordable housing supply but also to address the specific needs of Indigenous residents through supportive programming linked to the property.
By bringing together an affordable housing developer, a Native-led nonprofit and multiple layers of public-sector funding, Thunderbird Nest illustrates how institutional landholdings, such as college-owned property, can be repositioned for long-term affordable housing. With a defined development timeline to 2029 and identified sources of public support, the project adds clarity to the pipeline of larger family-oriented affordable units planned for North Seattle.
