SEATTLE, WASH. — June 12, 2026— Seattle Foundation today announced a $500k investment to Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) to advance two important community priorities in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID): predevelopment work for 8th and Lane, a future mixed-use affordable housing development, and community activations that will celebrate the neighborhood during the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The funding reflects Seattle Foundation’s commitment to investing in the long-term future of the CID, the livelihood of its small businesses and the immediate opportunities presented by one of the world’s largest sporting events.
“Seattle Foundation is proud to support investments that strengthen the Chinatown-International District both today and for future generations,” said Ken Takahashi, Director of Social Impact Investing at Seattle Foundation. “This support will help advance affordable housing opportunities in the CID while also creating opportunities for community-centered programming during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We’re honored to partner with SCIDpda in work that creates lasting community assets and celebrates the neighborhood’s culture and identity.”
“We are deeply grateful for Seattle Foundation’s partnership and investment in the Chinatown-International District,” said Jamie Lee, Co-Executive Director of SCIDpda. “This support helps us continue building toward a future where families can afford to live in the CID while also creating opportunities to celebrate the neighborhood’s culture, creativity, and community during a moment when the world’s attention will be on Seattle.”
Investing in 8th and Lane
A portion of the funding will support predevelopment activities for 8th and Lane, which SCIDpda acquired in March 2026.
As with all of its development projects, SCIDpda intends to redevelop 8th and Lane as a mixed-use affordable housing development featuring affordable family housing above ground-floor space dedicated to either a community-based organization and/or affordable commercial retail opportunities.
The residential focus will be on creating housing for families, with a goal of maximizing the number of two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes, pending the results of a formal feasibility study. SCIDpda also intends to pursue deeper affordability levels, focusing on households earning between 30% and 50% of Area Median Income (AMI).
Seattle Foundation’s support will fund architectural and feasibility work needed to evaluate development options, establish a preliminary unit mix, and determine the site’s overall development potential. These findings will help inform future financing strategies and public funding applications needed to advance the project toward construction.
Supporting Community Activations During the FIFA World Cup 2026™
Seattle Foundation’s support will also help SCIDpda and its partners create community-centered activations during the FIFA World Cup 2026™, helping ensure that residents and visitors have opportunities to engage with the culture, creativity, and community of the Chinatown-International District. SCIDpda’s activation will be held in Canton Alley South, in the alleyway behind the 8th and Lane property.
As part of this effort, SCIDpda is partnering with artist and organizer Scott Oshima, CID Arts Groups, CAM Mobile Book Fair & Library, local mahjong groups, artists Vivian Lin and Eli Roberts, and DJ Teck Savvy to program activities in Canton Alley South during the Wing Luke Museum’s JamFest.
This programming supported through the investment aims to highlight local artists, celebrate neighborhood culture, and create welcoming opportunities for residents and visitors alike, ensuring that the CID’s culture, businesses, organizations, and residents remain at the center of the neighborhood’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ experience.
###
About Seattle Foundation
Seattle Foundation is a community foundation that works to advance equity, shared prosperity, and belonging throughout the region while strengthening the impact of the philanthropists it serves. Founded in 1946, we continue to evolve to be the organization our community needs. With more than $1.2 billion in assets, we work with partners to provide effective advising, education, and experiential learning for our philanthropists interested in making a difference both at home here in Seattle and around the world. For those interested in learning more, please visit: https://www.seattlefoundation.org/about-us/.
About SCIDpda
SCIDpda’s mission is to preserve, promote, and develop Seattle’s Chinatown-International District as a vibrant community and unique ethnic neighborhood. Through affordable housing development, property management, resident services, community development, and placekeeping initiatives, SCIDpda works to ensure that the CID remains a place where people of all backgrounds can live, work, and thrive.
Media Contacts:
Seattle Foundation
[email protected]
SCIDpda
Marion Emme, [email protected]g
