Brooks Village
What is Brooks Village?
Brooks Village is a lush, undeveloped 14.3-acre plot of land just north of Grocery Outlet in Skyway off Renton Ave S and across from S116th Pl. On a section of the property, Skyway Coalition, Homestead, and Community Land Conservancy are working to build a community land trust with up to 55 new homes and a green space that allows first-time buyers to own an affordable home that remains affordable to future owners. To reduce the harms of displacement, Brooks Village will prioritize current and former residents of Skyway who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).
Brooks Village Will Be a Community Land Trust
A community land trust (CLT) is a nonprofit organization that collectively holds land for community benefit. With a CLT, the Skyway community owns the land, while individual occupants or homeowners own the buildings. Brooks Village aims to provide affordable housing, promote community development, and preserve land for long-term public benefit.
As a CLT, Brooks Village will ensure affordability for low- and moderate-income individuals and families even as homes change hands. Brooks Village offers lasting benefits, preventing displacement and enabling wealth building through ownership while providing ongoing support.
The green space
A green space is a public outdoor area. It can include areas for urban farming, nature paths, gathering spaces, water features, art, play equipment, urban forests, and so much more. This 14-acre property is a mixture of wetland and forest on the edge of the power-line corridor. Approximately 3 acres of the site will be developed for up to 55 affordable homes for local families. The remaining 11 acres will include a mix of grasslands, forest, and wetlands. The wetlands and some buffer areas around it cannot be disturbed, but plenty of space is available for a range of public uses. The southwest section of the property next to the power lines receives full sun.
The History of Brooks Village
For decades, our community has advocated for affordable housing options and an accessible green space for Brooks Village. The community faced many barriers, making it difficult to move forward until now.
Who currently owns the land?
King County currently owns the parcel, and in December 2023, Skyway Coalition, in partnership with Homestead CLT, was awarded the opportunity to negotiate a transfer of land ownership!
The Community Design Process
As an unincorporated King County area, our community must actively advocate for our needs and community vision in the absence of services and resources provided to incorporated cities. In this project, we aim to achieve equitable access to green spaces for the people of Skyway.
Our goal is to give voice to residents and create a community-driven design to increase:
Areas to play and gather
Local food access
Sustainable jobs and economic growth
Climate resilience and community health
Recreation and youth programming
Brooks Village Green Space Timeline
-
Summer/Fall 2023
• Build connections with community and partners
• Share information widely
• Bring in stakeholders -
January - May 2024
• Impacted community gatherings
• Present site info and constraints
• Brainstorm visions & priorities
• Ensure a wide reach of input -
September 2024
• Final community gathering
• Share back with community
We Need Your Voice
Share what’s important to you
To design the future of the community green space surrounding the housing development, we need your thoughts. During the community design process, we collaborate with and advocate for community priorities to have the greatest collective impact on this one-of-a-kind development. Please take a moment to complete our quick survey.
Share Your Ideas
Do you have questions, concerns, or ideas that you want to share about Brooks Village or the green space? Please reach out.
Upcoming Events
Participating in a Brooks Village event offers an excellent opportunity to:
Delve into the project
Amplify your opinions
Connect with fellow community members
Your presence would be highly valued, and we look forward to seeing you at our next event.
The Brooks Village team July 2023 including staff from Skyway Coalition, Homestead CLT, the Community Land Conservancy, Washington Farmland Trust, and Mithūn. Starting top left: Sophia Toler-Smith, Katie Ruthenberg, Bennet Song, David Baker, Gurjot Kang, Debra Guenther, Eric Pravitz, Sean Watts, Hilary Aten. Starting bottom left: Hannah Wilson, Nancy Huizar, Kathleen Hosfeld
Meet the Brooks Village Team
Hannah - Skyway Coalition’s Skyway Farmers Market & Bazaar Liaison
Katie - Skyway Coalition’s Community Connector Program Coordinator
Avery - Skyway Coalition’s Program Coordinator
Homestead Community Land Trust
Community Land Conservancy
Mithūn
Washington Farmland Trust