Our Founding Story
At The Inclusive at Northaven, we warmly welcome all walks of life and value the diverse perspectives of our community. That said, our story would not be complete without recognizing the roots we grew from. Those roots still drive the values we live and work by today, in offering low-income housing within a vibrant, caring, multi-generational community in North Seattle.
In 1968, a few members of a small congregation on the corner of 5th Ave. N.E. and N.E. 95th St. — Olympic View Community Church of the Brethren — recognized the need for low-cost senior housing in North Seattle. Against great odds, government bureaucracy, and with enormous fortitude and perseverance, they took out second mortgages on their own homes and convinced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to grant a loan of $3 million to build Northaven. With the full support of their pastor and congregation, this small group of men and women turned an "impossible" dream into reality.
"It was truly a remarkable accomplishment" — and, to this day, Northaven remains one of the largest and most respected non-profit retirement communities in greater Seattle, the only one founded by a single local church congregation.
Today, as Olympic View Church has grown smaller, the congregation has sold its larger building and moved onto the Northaven campus itself, worshiping in The Green House, which they have remodeled as their new home at the entrance to the campus. Fifty-some years after they mortgaged their own homes to make Northaven possible, the founders' spiritual home is once again, quite literally, part of The Inclusive at Northaven community.
A congregation takes root
Seattle First Church of the Brethren is established, building its first meetinghouse in the Greenwood neighborhood.
Olympic View is born
The congregation builds a new meetinghouse in Maple Leaf and becomes Olympic View Community Church of the Brethren.
An impossible dream begins
A handful of Olympic View members mortgage their own homes and pursue a $3 million HUD loan to build affordable senior housing in North Seattle.
Northaven opens
With 198 apartments, Northaven opens its doors — and has remained fully occupied ever since.
Assisted living arrives
Northaven II opens with 40 assisted living units, giving residents a continuum of care without leaving the Northaven family.
The Northaven Foundation
Founded with a $100,000 estate gift, the Foundation now holds roughly $1 million to support residents whose personal finances or Medicaid benefits fall short.
Northaven West
The campus grows again with 82 new affordable apartments for residents 62 and older.
Coming full circle
Olympic View Church moves onto The Inclusive at Northaven campus, worshiping in their newly remodeled Green House — the founding congregation becomes a neighbor once again.