The Seattle Social Housing Developer (SSHD) board has approved a $68 million purchase of Youngstown Flats, a six-story, nearly 200-home apartment complex in West Seattle. The deal marks the agency’s second major building acquisition in five months, signaling a rapid expansion of publicly owned, mixed-income housing in the region.

The purchase of the property—which opened in 2023 with average unit sizes exceeding 800 square feet—is scheduled to officially close in mid-December.

Tenant Benefits & Immediate Protections As part of the transition into social housing, the public developer announced several immediate affordability perks for residents living in Youngstown Flats:

• Two-Year Rent Freeze: Current lease rates will remain locked for two years.

• Free Public Transit: Every resident will receive a free, one-year ORCA transit pass.

• Fee Elimination: The agency plans to abolish "junk fees" and phase out the Ratio Utility Billing System (RUBS)—which divides building-wide utility costs among tenants—within its first year of ownership.

The property features 10 ADA-compliant units, offers access to local transit routes (RapidRide C and H lines), and sits near the DragonFly Garden and Pavilion along Longfellow Creek.