Seattle, King County To Partner On New Crisis Care Facility

King County is moving forward with plans to open a second regional Crisis Care Center, following a letter of conditional support from Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and a proposal submitted by King County Executive Shannon Braddock to the County Council. The new facility is planned for the former Polyclinic building at 1145 Broadway in Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood.

The project is part of the voter-approved Crisis Care Centers Initiative, passed in 2023, which calls for five centers across the region where anyone can walk in for behavioral health or substance use treatment. The centers are intended to provide immediate help, connections to ongoing care, and a safe, stable place to recover — regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

King County opened its first crisis care center last year with Connections Kirkland, serving North King County communities. Braddock said the next facility is a result of regional collaboration.

“From the start, King County has worked hand-in-hand with communities across the region, including Seattle, to increase access to behavioral health treatment and services,” said Braddock. “The City of Seattle’s partnership is a strong example of how local governments can come together to make care accessible. By engaging residents, first responders, local organizations, and businesses, we’ve heard loud and clear the urgent need for immediate care. We know treatment works — we just need more of it.”

Harrell says the proposed center is a vital part of the city’s public health strategy.

“This Crisis Care Center will serve as a remedy for suffering and disorder we too frequently see on our streets — it means more effective treatment to help people recover,” said Harrell. “As we continue our work to support those in need, create community safety, and revitalize the health and vitality of this neighborhood and our entire city, ensuring this location is a success will require the comprehensive approach we have advocated for.”

According to Harrell’s letter of conditional support, the City of Seattle will work with King County to put mitigation measures in place before opening. These include a safety assessment, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design strategies, and a plan for keeping nearby public spaces clean and safe. Similar measures were taken when DESC opened the STAR Center downtown.

Over the past four months, the county has held more than 40 meetings with First Hill and Capitol Hill residents, local organizations, businesses, hospitals, and first responders. First responders and medical professionals say the facility will help ease pressure on emergency rooms.

“Hospital emergency departments are overwhelmed and too often become a revolving door, seeing countless people in crisis — who can’t get the care they need — end up in painful, endless cycles,” said Amy Dodgion, LICSW, Senior Manager of Behavioral Health in Acute Care with Providence Swedish. “This new Crisis Care Center will be a lifeline to our neighborhood and surrounding communities and give people the behavioral health care they need, when they need it.”

Virginia Mason Medical Center leadership calls the facility a necessary addition to the community’s care network.

“As a physician and interim president of Virginia Mason Medical Center, I see the lasting impacts of patients coming to us in crisis,” said David Tupponce, M.D., Interim President of Virginia Mason Medical Center. “We remain committed to providing the highest quality of care to all we serve and we also know there are limits to what we can provide here in the hospital and in our emergency department. The Crisis Care Center will fill a critical gap in our community and ensure support is available to those who need it most.”

County officials say the site is well suited for the center because it already has medical infrastructure, is zoned for health care, offers adequate space, and is near major transportation corridors and three hospital emergency departments. The county and city plan to establish a Good Neighbor Agreement and a Community Advisory Board to ensure the facility supports patients while addressing neighborhood concerns.

The King County Council has 30 days to act on the purchase and sale agreement. If approved, the sale would close by the end of December 2025, with the center expected to open in late 2027.