SEATTLE — A 35,000-square-foot space, just south of the Ballard Bridge, was converted into a fully-staffed safe RV parking lot that will be a short-term shelter for the unhoused.
The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) announced on Thursday the opening celebration of Salmon Bay Village, a new village in Interbay at 3435 15th Ave. West, Seattle. The village has tiny houses and safe parking spaces for people living in recreational vehicles (RVs). According to the LIHI, the new village will serve 40-50 people.
Salmon Bay Village has space for 26 RVs and nine heated and insulated tiny houses (8'x12'), along with case manager offices, a community kitchen, hygiene facilities, and a laundry room.
LIHI said everyone living in the village will receive help with obtaining IDs, applying for income support, and help with housing navigation, employment, healthcare, and other supportive services. Homeless outreach workers reported that tiny houses are the most sought-after shelter option requested by people living in RVs. People living in unsafe RVs will be able to stay in the tiny houses, according to LIHI.
"The goal of Salmon Bay Village is to enable vehicle residents to leave their deteriorating and unsafe RVs and to make a successful move into permanent housing," said Sharon Lee, LIHI executive director. "We are grateful to Mayor Harrell and the Seattle City Council for approving $1.9 million to implement an innovative solution for people experiencing homelessness."
Building permits filed with the City of Seattle for the same location called for a mixed-use apartment building complete with as many as 22 pickleball courts.
The contact for the pickleball court project, listed on the permit application, did not respond to KING 5’s request for comment in September. The financier of the project is Seattle Storm co-owner Virginia Gilder.
Back in May, a packed community meeting was held and neighbors pushed back against what they were told was a done deal. LIHI officials clarified their five-year lease with the property owner.
LIHI officials said they knew all along that they’d have to move the RV parking lot at some point, but the project moved forward nonetheless.
The pickleball facility and apartment complex are not set to move forward until 2025. The tiny homes would be packed up and moved elsewhere at that time.
