The Springs Living Breaks Ground in Issaquah to Address Housing, Aging, and Workforce Challenges with a Belonging-First Model Built on Investment in People
ISSAQUAH, Wash., June 3, 2026 — The Springs Living will break ground today on a 225-residence senior living community in Issaquah Highlands, its first in the Seattle region. Now in its 30th year, the organization is entering the market with a clear point of view: that communities for older adults should be designed to create belonging through care, community and culture, and that investing in people is fundamental to delivering it. As The Springs Living’s 24th community, this development responds to the growing pressures across housing, aging, and workforce, and fills a clear gap in the Issaquah market with a more modern, integrated approach to how people want to live as they age.
Washington’s aging population and constrained housing supply are placing increasing pressure on care and caregiving systems. The state’s 65-plus population is projected to nearly double between 2020 and 2050, with seniors expected to make up roughly one in five Washingtonians by 2030, according to the Washington Office of Financial Management. Issaquah and the broader Eastside are seeing rapid growth in the 65-plus population, while housing and modern care options have not kept pace.
“It all started as a family business, me taking care of my family," said Fee Stubblefield, founder and CEO of The Springs Living. “Issaquah represents an important moment, not just for our growth, but for the communities we serve. Thirty years later, the opportunity has changed, we’re building for a new generation of older adults. "This isn't my grandmother's generation," Stubblefield said. "It's a vibrant generation that appreciates living life to its fullest and wants to stay active. We’ve taken everything we’ve learned and poured it into designing special places that feel like home, creating a natural sense of belonging. At the heart of it, we’re still families taking care of families.”
The Springs Living owns, develops and operates 23 communities across Oregon, Southern Washington and Montana. The community provides this lifestyle by fostering connection, purpose and sense of belonging that helps people thrive.
“We welcome The Springs Living to Issaquah and appreciate their investment in expanding housing choices and supporting the needs of our growing senior population,” said Mayor Mark Mullet. “This project reflects the kind of thoughtful investment we need as Issaquah continues to grow, bringing additional housing, jobs, and services to the region.”
Issaquah reflects the broader pressures shaping the region, but with a distinct local dynamic. As a fast-growing Eastside community, it faces a clear gap in housing and care options for older adults, with limited innovative solutions that fully integrate how people want to live with the quality care and culture to support it. At The Springs Living’s core is a deliberate focus on creating warm and comfortable environments where older adults experience belonging through connection, shared experiences, and spaces designed for people to thrive. The model is designed to bring together housing, care, and daily life without the tradeoffs that define many existing options.
The new community is designed to reflect the character of the Issaquah Highlands and its walkable access to parks and trails. It will include 225 residences across a full continuum of care, offering 114 Independent Living, 84 Assisted Living, and 27 Memory Care apartments.
The four-story community, located in the Issaquah Highlands near Gateway Park and adjacent to Swedish Issaquah, is expected to open in late 2028. The Springs Living's intentional positioning next to Swedish reflects the organization's model of care and service: to overlay and create a direct connection between the healthcare system and our communities, helping older adults navigate complex healthcare journeys while smoothing access to services.
The community will create hundreds of local jobs across caregiving, culinary, hospitality, and operations roles. This investment in workforce development and long-term careers reflects The Springs Living’s belief that quality experiences for older adults are built on investing in the people and culture that bring communities to life. Together, an integrated healthcare access model and a culture-first workforce strategy position The Springs Living Issaquah to demonstrate how housing and healthcare alignment delivers better outcomes for older adults and their families.
More than one in three older adults report feeling lonely, according to U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 Advisory on Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. Every aspect of the Issaquah community, from warm and comfortable shared spaces to culinary programming and daily activities, is intentionally designed to foster connection, routine, and a sense of belonging that combats this epidemic, and creates environments where older adults don’t just live, but thrive.
Workforce Investment as the Foundation of Care
The Springs Living also enters the market with a distinct approach to one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: workforce stability.
The organization’s approach is rooted in a different belief: that investing in people, culture, and long-term careers, not just staffing, directly shapes the experience of residents and sets a higher standard than other operators in the space.
"Quality of life for residents is directly tied to the people who care for them," said Brenda Connelly, president of The Springs Living. "We are in the people business, and we set a high standard of how we invest in our people. We hire for values and judgment, and our leaders are empowered to do the right thing. The magic doesn't happen because of our leadership or our policies; it happens within the communities through the people who work there every day. That's the culture of our organization, and it's what directly shapes the consistent quality our residents experience.”
The June 3 groundbreaking marks the beginning of The Springs Living’s long-term presence in the Seattle region. More than a new development, the project represents an investment in housing, jobs, and community infrastructure.
Development and Community Partners
Developed with PMB; capital partner Harrison Street; lender Huntington Bank; design by Mackenzie, and GBD Architects; construction by Exxel Pacific.
About The Springs Living
Based in Portland, Oregon, The Springs Living, now in its 30th year, serves older adults in Oregon, Montana, and Washington. Each community represents a unique combination of design, amenities, and services, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Since its founding in 1996, the organization has been committed to delivering quality service and fostering an enrichment culture to help older adults live life to its fullest.
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Media Contact: Andrea Corso
acorso@thespringliving.com
(917) 327-6198
