The El Rey Community Arts & Housing Project

With the support of our incredible community, we stopped The El Rey from being demolished! 

We knew it could be something better if it stayed in the hands of the community, and now we are doing it!

We’re inviting you to take part in a radical, collective project to help transform The El Rey into a permanent home for artists, cultural workers, and community in Seattle. With your support, you’re helping advance the next phase of this work: stabilizing the building and opening it to artists and the public.

The El Rey is a rare opportunity to create lasting space for artists and community in Seattle. After being saved from demolition, the building is now ready for what comes next. With timely support, we can begin stabilizing the space and activating it for use—ensuring it becomes an accessible, living place rather than sitting vacant. This moment sets the foundation for everything that follows.

This funding goes directly toward restoring the building and building it out responsibly. We are preparing the space for immediate use while laying the groundwork for long-term development.

The building will bring together:

• Affordable housing that provides long-term stability
• Retail and public space that connects artists with the neighborhood
• Residency and creative workspaces that support artists in developing and sharing their work

This campaign also positions The El Rey to pursue major public funding that can support a significant portion of renovation and construction, but only after the project demonstrates strong early support and readiness. Your support helps us meet that threshold by stabilizing the building, activating the ground floor, and showing that this project is real, viable, and already in motion.

This is the step that makes everything else possible. It turns a secured building into a project that can access the larger funding needed to fully realize housing, studios, and public space.

We invite you to contribute to the El Rey Community Arts and Housing Project by making a financial gift toward our $1 million goal. Your donation or pledge directly supports life safety upgrades, electrical and mechanical repairs, and move the building into active use. Your support ensures this historic building remains in public use and serves artists, cultural workers, and the broader Seattle community.