LIHI opened Ernestine Anderson Place (EAP) at 2010 S. Jackson St. in Seattle in 2013. The building is named in honor of legendary jazz singer Ernestine Anderson, an international star from Seattle’s Central Area and graduate of Garfield High. She got her start performing in the many jazz clubs that used to populate the Central Area neighborhood. Read bio.
EAP features 60 studio and 1-bedroom apartments for homeless and low-income seniors and features a sizable community space that has been used several times as a venue for the Upbeat on Jackson music festival. The space has also hosted community meetings and severe weather shelters.
See recent posting from Northwest African American Museum:
Ernestine Anderson at grand opening of Ernestine Anderson Place in 2013
In 2016, at the request of the Historic Central Area Arts & Cultural District and the Mayor’s office, SDOT installed honorary street name signs for Ernestine Anderson along S. Jackson St. between 20th Ave South and 23rd Ave South, including the block that runs in front of Ernestine Anderson Place.
Ms. Anderson’s family (from left to right): Falana, granddaughter, Sophia, granddaughter, and Shelley, daughter.
Jim Hendrix’s home (below) was moved to the site where EAP now stands in 2001 from a few blocks away and sat here until it was moved to Renton.
Here is some more history on the land where we built Ernestine Anderson Place. The property was acquired by the City of Seattle through eminent domain under the Urban Renewal program. This was a federal program in the 1960-70’s that included “slum clearance,” which decimated the Central Area. Hundreds of African American families and other families of color lost their homes through Urban Renewal. This site sat vacant and derelict for decades. A for-profit developer finally got site control of the land but was unable to develop it. By the time LIHI purchased the land it was being held by a bank and was in foreclosure. In addition to Ernestine Anderson Place, we developed Abbey Lincoln Court next door as affordable workforce housing. LIHI is thrilled that these two apartment communities exist to meet the housing needs in the Central Area.