October 16, 2025
We were honored to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Ballington Flats, a transformative affordable housing development in Burlington.
This 42-unit community at 1724 E. Rio Vista Avenue represents the power of collaboration, bringing together Volunteers of America Western Washington, Dawson Construction, Beacon Development Group, and our team at SMR Architects to address a critical need in Skagit County, where the rental vacancy rate sits below 1%.
Across six buildings, Ballington Flats will offer more than just housing. The development will feature thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces, gardens, and a dedicated resident services building with a community room, kitchen, laundry facilities, and offices to connect residents with resources on their path to stability and self-sufficiency.
This $20 million project, supported by the North Star Initiative and grant funding from multiple partners, exemplifies what’s possible when communities come together with a shared vision.
We’re proud to design a project that will make a lasting impact when it’s completed in August 2026. Thank you to everyone who makes this meaningful work possible.
Read more about the project here.
