Community Roots Housing

Small Business Saturday celebrates the backbone of our communities: small businesses. Community Roots Housing hosts a variety of commercial tenants across Seattle, providing affordable spaces for local entrepreneurs to thrive. One such tenant is Avole, located in Liberty Bank Building in the Central District. Owners Solomon Dubie, Gavin Amos, and Getachew Enbiale launched their flagship Ethiopian coffee shop in south Seattle off Rainer Avenue in 2016. The idea came to Solomon while attending Eastern Washington University and pondering what to do after college. Following graduation, Dubie pursued his passion for coffee and, through crowdfunding, opened Cafe Avole. In 2022, they opened a second location next to two other well-known Black-owned businesses in the building, Earl’s Cuts and Styles and Communion Restaurant and Bar. This Small Business Saturday, support the businesses that enrich our neighborhoods and remind us of the power of community.

Affordable housing is at the core of what we do at Community Roots Housing, and its benefits branch out far beyond a place to call home. When you give monthly as part of our Community Cultivators Club, you're helping nourish sustainable and long-lasting affordable housing solutions that strengthen our community. For just $19.76 a month, your recurring gift can: - Support neighbors in meeting essential needs. - Foster community engagement. - Create pathways to opportunity and financial resilience. - Provide a deeper sense of stability. As a thank-you, monthly donors receive exclusive Community Cultivators swag like the items pictured! Together, we’re working toward an equitable future. By 2026, Community Roots aims to add nearly 900 new affordable homes to our community. Join the movement today: https://bit.ly/3WxfSfO

Each November, Small Business Saturday reminds us of the vital role small businesses play in shaping vibrant, resilient neighborhoods. At Community Roots Housing, we’re proud to support dozens of small businesses across our commercial spaces. One example is The Shop Agora, located on the ground floor of Harrison at 15th since 2011. The Shop Agora offers a European-inspired environment with a combination of retail specialty food and wine, deli items and a wine bar where they serve lunch and dinner every day. When you shop small, you’re not just buying a product—you’re investing in your community. This Small Business Saturday let’s continue to support the businesses that make our neighborhoods feel like home.

Project update: Northgate transit-oriented development Next to one of the region’s busiest transportation hubs, Northgate Station, construction is progressing on a new transit-oriented development. Community Roots Housing and BRIDGE Housing Corporation are building 235 new affordable apartments in the neighborhood. The development also includes a childcare center operated by El Centro de la Raza, a comfort station for King County Metro Transit workers, and retail space. Earlier this month, the building officially “topped out”: The wood framing on all the floors and the roof have been installed. The structure has also been effectively “dried-in,” meaning that it's been sufficiently waterproofed from the installation of windows and the roofing membrane. With the full framing up and weatherproofing complete, the team is bringing in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing lines. Stay tuned for our announcement of the name of this exciting project, set to open next fall!

We can’t believe Omnivorous, Community Roots’ annual fundraiser and tasting event, was just over a month ago. By attending Omnivorous, you’re part of a larger conversation about affordable housing in our communities. We’re continuing that conversation with the founder of Tea Moss Shop, Takiyah, who has been participating as a vendor at Omnivorous for the past three years. After this year’s event, we spoke with her to hear her thoughts on affordable housing, why she started her business, and why she keeps coming back to share her time and beverages at Omnivorous. Read more: https://ow.ly/FPOq50Uazna

Now leasing! Do you know someone that’s looking for an apartment? Help Community Roots spread the word. Share with your networks that we have affordable studios and one-bedrooms available in prime locations. Liberty Bank is a 115-unit apartment building with available units for those earning 50% and 60% of the area median income. Built in 2019, it features a shared rooftop deck, courtyard, BBQ area, laundry, lounge, and workshop space. Conveniently located on the corner of E Union St. and 24th Ave., it’s perfectly situated next to all that Central District has to offer. Learn more: https://ow.ly/H46250Uaygx Station House features 110 affordable apartments in the heart of Capitol Hill. Opened in March of 2020, this environmentally-friendly building is new construction with a rooftop deck and 360 degree views of Seattle, just steps away from the Capitol Hill Light Rail Station, Cal Anderson Park, and Broadway. Currently, vacant units are available to those earning up to 60% of the area median income. Learn more: https://ow.ly/ZFt150Uaygy

One of our core values is to responsibly steward our properties while protecting the environment. Did you know that Community Roots' Station House, co-located with the Capitol Hill Light Rail Station, is certified LEED Platinum? Completed in 2020, Station House's construction builds on these values. It has triple-paned windows, solar panels, a green roof, and low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) interior paint. It’s insulation also exceeds code to boost energy efficiency while reducing noise pollution. These are just a few of the environmentally friendly features of the building. Station House is one of the four buildings that make up the Capitol Hill Transit Oriented Development (TOD)—and the only one that created publicly funded affordable housing. Station House is among the 40+ Community Roots properties that provide quality, safe, affordable homes to 2,000 of our neighbors.

Last month, Caleb Stephens was confirmed to the Community Roots Housing Foundation Board of Directors! Caleb is a community development professional and has dedicated his career to community service. Currently he is working on the Affordable Housing Finance team with KeyBank and is based in Seattle. He also worked as their Corporate Responsibility Officer for the Northwest. Beyond these positions with KeyBank, he worked at Washington Federal as CRA Officer/Community Development Manager covering their CRA and community development work over their eight western state footprint. Prior to this Caleb worked in non-profits in program management, program quality improvement, finance and economic development serving homeless and refugee populations. Please welcome Caleb!

We're excited to announce that Rennie Elliot has been confirmed to the Community Roots Housing Foundation Board of Directors! Rennie leads a portfolio of surplus transit property at Sound Transit and develops strategies to realize equitable transit-oriented development in opportunity-rich locations. Originally from Joshua Tree, Rennie grew up in rural low-income housing. She decided to pursue a career in affordable housing after taking a tour of affordable housing and observing how beautiful it could be. Rennie's spent the last 20 years in the industry working for local, regional, and national housing organizations across the multifamily development, federal rental program, and homeownership disciplines. Please give a warm welcome to Rennie!

Did you know that Community Roots owns, operates, and maintains Broadway Crossing on the corner of Broadway and E Pine St. on Capitol Hill? If you're familiar with the area, you might know the ground floor tenant: Walgreens. Built in 2007, Broadway Crossing was one of the first LEED Silver affordable housing developments in the city. The building features 44 total apartments serving individuals and households earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income. Residents have access to a shared rooftop deck, play area, dishwashers, garbage disposals, and free high-speed internet. Broadway Crossing is just one of 40+ Community Roots properties that provide quality, safe, affordable homes to 2,000 of our neighbors.