Housing, Creativity, and Community: Learning from Great Design

At Energize Tacoma, we believe housing and community development are deeply connected to art, culture, education, and economic opportunity.

28th Avenue ADU Cluster by b9 architects. Image courtesy of b9 architects. Used with permission.

As we explore ways to support Tacoma's creative economy, we often look for examples of projects that demonstrate what is possible. One project that has inspired us is the 28th Avenue ADU Cluster by b9 architects in Seattle's Mount Baker neighborhood.

This thoughtfully designed development shows how smaller-scale housing can create new opportunities for people to live in established neighborhoods without dramatically changing their character. Rather than relying solely on large apartment buildings, projects like this demonstrate how accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and missing middle housing can help address housing shortages while creating welcoming places for people to call home.

For organizations like Energize Tacoma, these ideas are especially important. Artists, educators, musicians, students, cultural workers, nonprofit leaders, and entrepreneurs all help shape the identity of a city. Yet many of the people who contribute so much to Tacoma's future increasingly struggle to find housing they can afford.

While Energize Tacoma is not currently developing housing, we are actively exploring how housing, creativity, and community spaces can work together to strengthen Tacoma's future. Understand that developing housing is a future step for Energize Tacoma! We believe housing should do more than provide shelter—it should help people build stable lives, create meaningful work, and remain connected to the communities they help build.

We are grateful to b9 architects for allowing us to share images of this project as an educational example of thoughtful housing design. Their work demonstrates how innovative architecture can support stronger, more livable communities.