Breaking New Ground: Prisma

Last week we gathered in the heart of Overlake Village to celebrate a big milestone: breaking ground on Prisma. Joined by partners from the City of Redmond, King County, Sound Transit, Microsoft, Amazon, and Friends of the Village Collective along with other funders, supporters, and community champions, we officially kicked off construction of our newest affordable housing community directly across from the Overlake Village light rail station in Redmond.

With golden shovels courtesy of our friends at Walsh, we turned the first dirt on the site where Prisma will stand in just a few short years. Afterward, we warmed up indoors with an inspiring speaking program featuring Redmond Mayor Angela Birney, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine, Michael Mattmiller from Microsoft, Pearl Leung from Amazon, Adam Dibba from The Friends of the Village Collective, and heartfelt remarks from our own CEO, Susan Boyd. It was a powerful reminder that projects like Prisma only happen through deep partnership and shared vision.

Affordable Homes at the Center of Opportunity

Prisma is designed around a simple but powerful idea: affordable housing works best when it connects people to opportunity. Transit. Jobs. Services. Small businesses. Community life. The project began in 2022. After completion of the Overlake Village light rail station, Sound Transit issued a Request for Proposals to transform surplus land into affordable housing as part of its 80/80/80 policy. That policy ensures most surplus property is used for housing, with the majority of homes affordable to households earning 80% or less of Area Median Income.

With alignment and support from the City of Redmond and key funding partners, including the King County Transit-Oriented Development Fund, the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, and bond allocation from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Prisma began to take shape.

When it opens in 2028, Prisma will offer:

• 328 affordable homes for low-income households

• More than 21,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space

• An at-grade structured parking garage

• A primary entrance directly across from the light rail station on DaVinci Street

Designed for Connection

Prisma is not just about housing. It is about belonging.

The six-story building will feature welcoming public plazas along 152nd Avenue NE, landscaped courtyards with children’s play areas, and inviting gathering spaces for neighbors to connect. A 5,000-square-foot flex-use room will host community events, workshops, and wellness classes.

The building’s kit-of-parts design approach uses complementary materials and efficient construction methods to keep costs down while still creating a visually engaging, modern home for residents. It is transit-oriented development at its best, literally steps from light rail.

Ground-Floor Spaces Rooted in Community

One of the most exciting aspects of Prisma is what is happening at street level.

The City of Redmond will operate a small business and city services center with a walk-up service counter and rotating public safety and human services support programming.

Meanwhile, the Wayfinder Hub, led by Friends of the Village Collective, will feature a commercial kitchen, media lab, culturally relevant support services to incubate small businesses and spark community-drive innovation.  Friends of the Village Collective is a coalition of 11 BIPOC- and immigrant-led organizations that serve East King County communities and provide meaningful support for families and entrepreneurs.

A third commercial space will host a café or food-based business, activating the street and creating a warm, welcoming gathering spot for both residents and transit riders.

Comprehensive Support for Residents

Prisma will be supported by Bellwether’s experienced Property Management, Facilities, and Compliance teams to ensure high-quality operations for years to come.

Resident services will be provided by Hopelink, a trusted Eastside nonprofit offering education and employment resources, food and financial assistance connections, transportation support, and enrichment activities.

Additionally, the King County Developmental Disabilities Division will provide referrals and case management for 10 ADA-accessible homes designed for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supporting independent living within a connected, inclusive community.

Built for Sustainable Living

Prisma’s location next to light rail means residents can reduce transportation costs and environmental impact. The project includes:

• 103 residential parking stalls

• 18 commercial parking stalls

• 13 electric vehicle charging stations

• Secure indoor bike storage and sidewalk racks

Parking will prioritize large families, residents with disabilities, and commercial tenants, encouraging equitable access while supporting car-light lifestyles.

A Community Effort

Despite the cold weather, the groundbreaking was full of warmth because it represented years of collaboration, persistence, and belief in what is possible. This milestone would not have happened without our public and private partners, our supporters, our Real Estate Development team, and our incredible Community Engagement Specialist, Lindsey Haley, who helped bring the celebration together so beautifully. Prisma represents more than a building. It is a shared investment in Redmond’s future, a place where residents can thrive, entrepreneurs can grow, and community life can flourish.

We cannot wait to welcome our first residents home in 2028!