City of Burien

Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) submitted a permit application for a new affordable housing development in downtown Burien at 801 SW 150th St. The building is designed to be six stories and will contain 95 studio units of housing with supportive services onsite including behavioral health care, crisis intervention, and employment services. The development also includes indoor and outdoor community spaces for single adults who are disabled and formerly homeless.

On June 21, 2021, Burien City Council voted to include DESC Burien into the Burien Affordable Housing Demonstration Program.

An administrative design review decision was issued by the City of Burien on December 16, 2021.

The building permit was issued by the City in December 2022.

Background Information

• Applicant letter describing the project (DESC)
• Proposed building elevations (DESC)
• DESC Burien Supportive Housing Neighborhood Outreach Report (DESC)
• DESC Burien Supportive Housing FAQs (DESC)
• DESC Housing Demonstration Project Q & A (City of Burien)
• DESC Burien Affordable Housing Demonstration Project Fact Sheet (City of Burien)
• DESC Burien Quick FAQs - June 8, 2021 (English): Plain Text PDF | Illustrated PDF
• DESC Burien Quick FAQs (June 8, 2021) (Español): Plain Text PDF | Illustrated PDF

Community Meetings

• DESC hosted a virtual design meeting on August 17, 6:30–7:30 p.m. DESC shared information on building design, features, amenities, and mural at this meeting.
• City of Burien hosted a public hearing on June 14, 6-9 p.m. View recording hearing.
• Housing Development Consortium hosted an educational event on June 8, 2021 on the topic of permanent supportive housing. View the recording.
• DESC hosted a community meeting (view recording) on February 23, 2021. The Planning Commission will review the project on March 10 and the Burien City Council will review the project on April 5 and 19.
• DESC hosted a meeting for small businesses in conjunction with Discover Burien and Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce on March 23, 2021. View meeting recording and recording of breakout sessions.
• Housing Development Consortium and South King Housing and Homelessness Partners are hosting an education session on the topic of permanent supportive housing on June 8 at 6:30 p.m. Panelists will cover definitions of permanent supportive housing, what it takes to build in the Puget Sound region, and more. There will be a period for questions and answers at the end of the session. Interpretation in Spanish will be available.
• Burien City Council held a public hearing on June 14, 2021. Watch a video of the staff presentation and hearing. Read the agenda materials.
• The Burien City Council voted to include the DESC project into the Burien Housing Demonstration Program on June 21, 2021. Watch a video of the meeting.

This proposed project is part of the Affordable Housing Demonstration Program. Questions? Please contact [email protected].

Updated April 24, 2023