A community land trust took on a difficult site in suburban Seattle — and ended up with a sustainable, diverse, mixed-ownership-form development that challenges multiple norms.
Homestead Community Land Trust has completed The Southard in Tukwila, Washington, a groundbreaking 18-unit neighborhood that blends affordability, sustainability, and inclusion. The project is the first residential development in the United States to achieve both net-zero energy consumption and Salmon-Safe certification, thanks to features like solar panels, rain gardens, and bioswales.
Beyond its environmental achievements, The Southard stands out for integrating two group homes designed specifically for adults with developmental disabilities, developed in partnership with Parkview Services. By donating land and co-planning the units, Homestead helped secure critical funding and created a rare model of disability-inclusive housing within a mixed-income community land trust framework.
The development wasn’t easy—Homestead navigated zoning hurdles, pandemic-era cost spikes, and lengthy permitting delays. To close financial gaps, the trust plans to sell several units at market rate, raising questions about balancing affordability with long-term stewardship. Still, The Southard demonstrates how creative financing, inclusive design, and environmental stewardship can align to expand the future of community ownership.
FULL STORY: Mixed Income, Net Zero, and Fish Friendly: Innovation at The Southard
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Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association