One of Interbay’s largest remaining state-owned properties could be headed for major change as the Washington National Guard works toward relocating its longtime Armory facility.
According to KING 5, the Guard has purchased land in North Bend as the future home for its operations, though the project’s funding and timeline remain uncertain.
A National Guard spokesperson told KING 5 that similar moves have taken five to seven years in the past. The Guard said the pace of the project will depend on when funding from federal, state, or regional sources comes through. Early work at the North Bend location is expected to include utility and infrastructure upgrades.
Back in 2019, the Washington Department of Commerce convened a public “open house” for the Interbay Armory site, citing the site’s 1974–era armory building as no longer meeting the needs of the Washington National Guard.
The advisory committee tasked with studying reuse described the state-owned site as “being considered for redevelopment as it’s no longer an ideal location for the National Guard.” At the time, the Guard had no formal plans to leave Seattle.
The Armory site’s planned transition would have ripple effects beyond the Guard’s operations. Once the facility is vacated and federal restrictions are removed, the Ballard-Interbay State Lands Development Authority would officially step in to steer future redevelopment.
The Armory is located next to Terminal 91, a major Port of Seattle hub. KING 5 highlighted a University of Washington study that found that the roughly 25-acre state-owned Interbay Armory property is one of the area’s largest redevelopment opportunities. If redeveloped, it could potentially support up to 1,200 housing units if zoning changes are approved.
Some port officials have cautioned against assuming the site should automatically shift to housing once it becomes available, raising concerns about losing industrial space in an active working waterfront.
Sound Transit is also watching the site closely. Planning documents for the Ballard Link Extension light rail project identify the Armory parcel as a significant variable in shaping the future Smith Cove Station. The agency notes that redevelopment of the state-owned land could add jobs and new destinations within walking distance of the station, affecting how riders arrive and how the station should function.
Sound Transit has explored connections such as multi-use trails, new east–west pedestrian routes, and improved bike access that could link the Armory site directly to the light-rail station area if the property is redeveloped.
The full extension would add 7.7 miles of light rail track, nine stations, a new tunnel through downtown, and a Salmon Bay crossing. It is currently planned for completion by 2039. That said, Sound Transit is facing a long-term financial shortfall of $34.5 billion.
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