Seattle City Council, Port of Seattle clash over workforce housing proposal in SODO

The latest chapter in a contentious political fight between the Seattle City Council and the Port of Seattle over rezoning a portion of the SODO neighborhood is shaping up.

On Monday, the Council’s Governance, Accountability, and Economic Development Committee heard feedback from members of the public and stakeholders over a proposal to amend city zoning laws and allow workforce housing near T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field.

The bill, which was introduced by Council President Sara Nelson in January, would also establish a “Seattle Makers’ District” for small business owners.

This isn’t the first time the neighborhood has faced zoning changes. In 2023, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell signed off on the city’s Maritime and Industrial Strategy, which established an Urban Industrial zone. Housing is currently allowed in that zone, except in the Stadium District.

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Advocates for the new bill say workforce housing and a makers’ district would create new job opportunities and help workers stay in the city they’re being priced out of.

“Seattle is known for being a hub for innovation and creativity, but small makers like myself are struggling to find and keep affordable [work]space,” Colina Bruce, the owner of Noir Lux Candle bar said during the public comment period.

Bruce called on the City Council to support the bill, and emphasized that a makers' district would help address the barriers entrepreneurs from marginalized backgrounds face in expanding their businesses.

“We need real investment in spaces that support our work,” Bruce told the Governance, Accountability, and Economic Development Committee.

The president of Seattle’s Port Commission, Toshiko Hasegawa, joined a panel of stakeholders to discuss the proposal with the City Council and rebuked the legislation during Monday’s meeting.

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Building apartments in SODO would put “housing on the front step of industry,” Hasegawa said, and leave pedestrians at risk of accidents with freight trucks and trains.

The neighborhood also lacks the amenities many residents look for and need. Hasegawa pointed out the lack of libraries, schools, and grocery stores in SODO.

“This proposal is not housing championship,” Hasegawa said. “People deserve better, and marking this for affordable housing is akin to redlining.”

Other stakeholders raised concerns over the bill’s removal of a stipulation prohibiting any housing within 200 feet of a major truck route.

“We want to protect the major truck lanes that we’ve got,” said Dan Kelly, the chair of the Seattle Freight Advisory Board. “Adding any residential [developments] to a major truck lane is going to cause disruption. ... The construction that’s going to happen is going to cause a major disruption and access to the port.”

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At one point, District 4 Councilmember Maritza Rivera pressed the panel for clarification over whether new housing would impact foot traffic in SODO, given that the area is already home to hotels and busy sport stadiums.

“They’re not just coming in for a hotel for a night, and then they’re going to leave,” Hasegawa pushed back. “You’re going to hear from these constituents who are living in and next to an industrial operation.”

And, according to Hasegawa, the Port has spent millions of dollars to address air, noise, and water pollution in South King County and the Duwamish Valley.

The matter isn't yet decided. A Committee vote on the bill is expected as soon as this Thursday.