Sound Transit chooses developer for transit-oriented development

Sound Transit has selected a regional affordable housing developer, Mercy Housing Northwest, to build 108 apartments above ground-floor commercial space next to the Othello Link light-rail station in southeast Seattle.

The agency's selection followed a competitive public process that solicited proposals to develop the site on Martin Luther King Jr. Way South near Myrtle Street. Following negotiations, the Sound Transit Board will review a proposed agreement, agency officials said in a press release.

"Light rail is now a part of the community in southeast Seattle," said Sound Transit Board Chairman and King County Executive Dow Constantine. "I am excited to see the community grow with more affordable housing options for our region's working families."

Sound Transit officials will work with the city's Office of Housing to ensure adequate and timely financing for the site. Transit-oriented development such as multi-family apartments near light-rail stations is one of the office's priorities, they said.

The design concept for the project, called Myrtle Apartments at Othello Station, includes a total of 108 affordable apartments for low-income families above 8,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial and community space with 50 underground parking spots.

The project will provide apartments affordable to a wide range of families earning up to 60 percent of the area median income, which is $47,640 for a three-person household. The Othello project is the second development on Sound Transit property near its light-rail stations in Rainier Valley.