Seattle
Developed by the Low Income Housing Institute, The Marion West is a four-story, mixed-use building located in Seattle's University District within walking distance of Seattle Light Rail.
The development combines the strengths and mission of the Low Income Housing Institute, an affordable housing developer; YouthCare, a service provider for homeless youth and young adults; Street Bean Coffee, a social impact company; and the University District Food Bank.
After operating in a church basement for the past three decades, the University District Food Bank now has 5,900 square feet of interior space with prominent street frontage plus a 7,000-square-foot rooftop organic farm for low-income residents of the local community.
Nonprofit Street Bean Coffee operates the public cafe at ground level and provides job training. Workers learn the skills needed to be a barista and needed to maintain employment. The nonprofit provides street-involved youths the opportunity to reclaim their lives. Each purchase of a bag of its coffee funds one hour of job training for a young person exiting street life.