Save the Holman Road Neighborhood Center in Crown Hill
Seattle City Council
We support a more affordable, inclusive, and sustainable Seattle.
We strongly support the Holman Road Neighborhood Center in the One Seattle Growth Plan to make our neighborhood more affordable, more sustainable, and more inclusive.
Background: The housing crisis is real. An additional 112,000 homes will be needed in Seattle by the year 2044. The current rate of building is not enough to accommodate what is needed, which is why housing is so unaffordable in Seattle.
State law requires the City of Seattle to develop a new growth strategy, also known as the Comprehensive Plan or One Seattle Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is a roadmap for growing and investing in our city over the next 20 years and beyond. The plan allows for additional types of housing in all parts of Seattle.
When cities are allowed to build more homes, housing costs come down. The One Seattle Plan will help make Seattle more affordable by making it easier to build the housing we need.
The current proposal includes 30 Neighborhood Centers, where more housing would be allowed. These Neighborhood Centers are located in areas with shops, transit, and other amenities, allowing more people to live close to their daily needs and jobs. The diversity of housing types would make these centers more affordable for the average Seattleite.
The proposed Holman Road Neighborhood Center is located along Holman Road to the south of Carkeek Park. It is centered on the stretch from 7th Avenue NW eastward past 3rd Avenue NW, stopping just short of Greenwood Avenue N. This area already has commercial properties including the shopping center anchored by QFC, local restaurants and shops, medical offices, retirement homes, and other amenities. There are already many apartments and townhomes in this area. It is well served by transit, including Metro routes 28 and 40 and Rapid Ride D.
Current zoning in this neighborhood means there aren’t enough homes for most people to afford to buy our rent today. In December 2024, the median sale price of a home in Crown Hill was $854,000. The median monthly rent for available apartments was nearly $2,000/month. The few apartments that exist do not meet the needs of older people who want to sell their homes and remain in the neighborhood, adult children who grew up here but can’t afford to buy a home, or people who want to move here to be close to work or schools.
Anti-housing activists are lobbying to prevent this much needed housing from being planned in our neighborhood. Your voice is key to fighting back by affirming our commitment to affordability, sustainability, and welcoming our neighbors. Seattle is for all of us.
Sign our petition to let your representative know that you support the proposed Holman Road Neighborhood Center (Council District 5).
In addition to signing this petition, please consider sending an email to your councilmembers: Cathy.Moore@seattle.gov, AlexisMercedes.Rinck@seattle.gov, and Sara.Nelson@seattle.gov. Councilmember Cathy Moore represents District 5. Councilmembers Sara Nelson and Alexis Mercedes-Rinck both represent all of Seattle.
Please also consider attending and speaking at upcoming opportunities for public comment.
The Select Committee on the Comprehensive Plan, made up of all 9 Councilmembers, began meeting on Jan. 6, 2025. The committee is expected to cast final votes on the proposed Comprehensive Plan package in May or June 2025.
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Seattle City Council
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Crown Hill Supports More Homes and Thriving Communities
We, the undersigned, are Seattle residents who are deeply concerned about the future of Crown Hill. We live here. We work here. We eat and shop here. Our children and pets play here. We use services here. We have deep roots here. This is our neighborhood.
We express our strong support for the establishment of the Holman Road neighborhood center proposed in the Comprehensive Plan. Establishing this center is crucial for addressing many pressing needs within our community, particularly the urgent need for more housing that is affordable and accessible to all.
As our city continues to grow, so does the necessity for mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods. Creating neighborhood centers will not only facilitate the development of new housing options but will also ensure that our community remains inclusive, resilient, and vibrant. The Holman Road neighborhood center will play an essential role in keeping middle income earners, from health care workers to firefighters, from teachers to service workers, in our community. It will allow our aging neighbors to stay in their community while providing a space for young families to join us. It will strengthen our local businesses.
The proposed Holman Road Neighborhood Center is located along Holman Road to the south of Carkeek Park. It is centered on the stretch from 7th Avenue NW eastward past 3rd Avenue NW, stopping just short of Greenwood Avenue N. This area already has commercial properties including the shopping center anchored by QFC, local restaurants and shops, medical offices, retirement homes, and other amenities. There are already many apartments and townhomes in this area. It is well served by transit, including Metro routes 28 and 40 and Rapid Ride D.
By concentrating housing close to essential services, we can promote sustainability and mitigate climate change. When people can live, work, and access amenities within walking distance, we reduce our reliance on cars, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance everyone's quality of life. Building housing in already dense areas requires much less resources than the alternative - forest-consuming suburban sprawl.
We strongly reject the scarcity mindset that often surrounds discussions about housing and claims that we don't have enough amenities to share them. Instead, we advocate for a response rooted in abundance and investment. The Comprehensive Plan is an opportunity to create neighborhoods that offer enough for everyone and create ample opportunities for current and future residents. It is up to us to seize this opportunity and create what we need.
Most of all, opponents of expanding our neighborhood don't offer any tangible solutions to our housing crisis, leaving our community yearning for actionable strategies.
We want a bold vision for Seattle’s future—one that embraces growth, sustainability, and equity. With thoughtful planning, we can build a city that not only addresses the housing crisis but does so in a manner that respects our environment and fosters thriving communities.
We urge our city council to embrace this bold vision with us. Together, we can create a Seattle that is resilient and affordable for all.