We are excited to announce that construction on Mercy Housing Northwest’s MLK Senior Housing in Tacoma, WA started in September! We thank our partners, SMR Architects and Walsh Construction company for their support. Partnerships make positive community impact like this possible.

The Hilltop Neighborhood

This will be Mercy Housing’s fifth property in the Hilltop neighborhood. This 60-home community is scheduled to be completed in September 2021. It’s just blocks away from two rail stations along Sound Transit’s Link Hilltop Extension and close to local hospitals and healthcare facilities. This neighborhood has a rich variety of healthcare and educational resources, with St. Joseph Hospital, MultiCare, and UW Tacoma in close proximity, while Evergreen State College is nearby as well.

The development supports the Hilltop’s need for affordable housing. It’s one of the more diverse neighborhoods in the city of Tacoma.  MLK Senior Housing will prevent displacement by offering very affordable rents for some of Tacoma’s most vulnerable residents, meeting the City of Tacoma’s goals, and ensuring the Hilltop community is always accessible to people of all ages and income levels.

This comes at a critical time, and we were honored when the city invited us to get involved. There are a lot of new developments planned for the neighborhood and the city wanted to partner with nonprofits that have experience and understanding in the neighborhood so that the area would remain affordable. In addition to 20% of the homes being set-asides for households with a disabled tenant, one-third of the homes at MLK Senior Housing have a leasing preference for veterans.

MLK Senior Housing is a 43,000-square-foot building that will feature 60 one-bedroom homes for people over the age of 62. What will truly make this community more than four walls and a roof for residents will be the opportunities offered by our Resident Services programming.

Opportunities to Grow

With a spacious community room and beautiful outdoor plaza, events and Resident Services programs will have a central place to foster a sense of belonging and support. Evidence-based services will emphasize health and wellness, community engagement, as well as housing and financial stability. These services help residents to thrive instead of just get by. The neighborhood has seen a drop in crime and Mercy Housing Northwest is thrilled to be part of the solution to continue supporting the Hilltop neighborhood to be a healthy, vibrant community.

Experience, Equity, and Engagement

Mercy Housing’s experienced, equity-focused Development Team has long standing ties in Tacoma.  We have been developing housing for 15 years in the Hilltop neighborhood. Having partnered with the City and local organizations in the community on previous developments, Mercy Housing Northwest was chosen as a trusted housing partner to create more affordable housing in the Hilltop neighborhood. Our development partners, SMR Architects and Walsh Construction, are experienced in the City of Tacoma and have worked with us on other projects including New Tacoma Senior Housing.

Thank You Obi Amobi!

We offer a very special shout out and thank you to Lead Developer, Obi Amobi. His dedication, collaborative nature, and compassion and understanding for the neighborhood has been instrumental in making sure that MLK Senior Housing will be a success for residents, the community, and everyone that calls Tacoma home.