Multicultural Village
housing and community center that supports residents with developmental disabilities.

Open Doors for Multicultural Families (ODMF) has a vision to create a Multicultural Village—an inclusive residential community located within a mixed-use development that will offer a variety of amenities and services. The physical and programmatic design of the Village will center people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) but will support people of all abilities. This is a unique residential model not currently found in the general marketplace. The proposed site for the Multicultural Village is located adjacent to the Kent/Des Moines light rail station in south King County.

Schemata Workshop was hired by ODMF to assist them in the development of a TOD Vision and Strategy. We facilitated stakeholder meetings and community engagement; conducted capacity studies to understand development potential of the site and programming studies to develop the size requirements for ODMF operated spaces*; prepared an arts master plan, met with public agencies and elected officials, and advised ODMF on completing funding applications, negotiations with the housing developer and general affordable housing development practices. Mercy will develop 160-200 affordable homes for households earning <60% AMI. Twenty percent of them will be set aside for persons with disabilities and their families. We will be supporting ODMF and Mercy Housing NW in their proposal to Sound Transit to be awarded the site.

*ODMF intends to operate a multicultural community center, an inclusive/integrated early learning facility, and adult day program. ODMF will also move their offices to the site.