Seola Gardens, the mixed-income community being developed by King County Housing Authority just east of Lakewood Park in White Center, is rising at a rapid rate in 2013 with rental housing nearing completion and developer Richmond American Homes signing on to build 54 properties for purchase.

Similar to the Greenbridge neighborhood in White Center, KCHA is developing Seola Gardens as a mixed-income community intended to “break up the concentration of poverty,” according to Rhonda Rosenberg, KCHA’s communications director.

Homebuilding at Seola stalled when the housing recession hit, but Rosenberg said Richmond’s commitment is a sign of changing tides.

Once completed, Seola will have a mixture of 177 subsidized workforce rental units, 107 homes sold at market value, and a senior housing and community center (operated by Providence Health and Services of Washington). There will also be public art installations, rain gardens, community gardens, play areas for kids and a Head Start program for preschoolers.

Rosenberg said KCHA hopes to have the rental housing completed in the fall of 2013.

Richmond American Homes is unveiling a model home on March 2 for tours, which will be representative of “five floor plans at Seola Gardens, with base prices ranging from $224,950 for a 1,519 square foot home to $284,950 for a 2,518 square-foot plan,” Rosenberg wrote. “Each of the three- or four-bedroom homes comes with a one- or two-door garage,” and buyers will have upgrade options.

For anyone interested in a touring the Richmond home, Rosenberg said to contact Traci Schiffner (community sales manager) at 206-910-0280.

The Seola Gardens land, located at the southwest corner of S.W. 104th St. and 4th Ave. S.W., was originally developed as Park Lake Homes II, a World War II public housing community.

For more information on Seola Gardens as a whole, visit the KCHA website at www.seolagardens.org.