In July 2023, Plymouth Housing’s first development outside of Seattle will open its doors. Located adjacent to Interstate 90 in Bellevue’s Eastgate neighborhood, Plymouth Crossing is part of a housing campus that includes a men’s shelter operated by PorchLight, and lower-income family housing development from Inland Group.

Taking its name from the I-90 bridge “crossing” between Seattle and the Eastside, Plymouth Crossing will bring 92 people from homelessness into safe, permanent supportive housing.

In the past, Plymouth has worked with local artists to help beautify our buildings—sites of community and safety for people who had previously been unhoused. Works have included Sarah Robbins’ soothing entryway mural at Toft Terrace, and the soaring sculpture “Returning Home” by Louis Chinin and Huameng Yu in front of Almquist Place.

For Plymouth Crossing, accomplished muralist and Issaquah native Molly Keen was commissioned to create a large-scale painted work spanning two walls surrounding resident mailboxes. The colorful panorama includes a city skyline on the horizon. The mural goes on to depict many of the natural wonders of Cascade foothills, including forests, rivers, and mountains.

Learn more about Keen’s work in the Q&A below.

Tell us about your history with the Eastside. 

I grew up in Issaquah, Washington. [The first major population center after Bellevue as you head east from Seattle.] It’s a special place for me. We grew up hiking Poo Poo Mountain. One of the best aspects of life on the Eastside is the proximity to nature. I’ve painted murals in 34 different countries all over the world—and I’ve never painted one this close to home. This has been an incredible opportunity to share some of the places that defined my childhood.

Tell us more about some of the details of the mural you created for Plymouth Crossing.   

The mural is called Cascade Crossing. The work is a conceptual idea of what it means to live here. It’s playful, whimsical, and colorful. Not everything is realistic—but that’s what I love about it. I wanted to make something vibrant and happy like most of my murals. With my work, I want people to look and not have to think. They can just feel that it’s a little piece of joy.

The idea here is to depict Bellevue bridging into the Cascades, Nature meeting the city. On the far side is the City of Bellevue. Then Lake Washington, complete with I-90 bridge. I also put Sound Transit Link in—even though it’s not quite finished yet.

The city transitioning into nature is an important element because the Eastside has a lot of trails and a rich natural backdrop. I put it all in there. It’s exciting to make a mural that showcases that full spectrum, from city to nature.

Many of the residents moving into Plymouth’s buildings have experienced chronic homelessness and complex trauma. How do you hope the mural will inspire the building’s residents? 

 I love the idea of this mural being a therapeutic welcome to the building. They’re coming home at last. It’s super meaningful that they get to have their own space. The mural is a part of it—but the community who will live here is what makes Plymouth Crossing so special. I’ve painted murals for lots of different clients. But this one hits close to home.  I wanted to paint a mural for Plymouth Housing because it allowed me to work around folks who I really admire—people I’ve shared food with and connected with.

Why do you want to help build community with your murals?

I love bringing community into my work. It’s the main reason that I do art. Traveling all over, seeing different populations, leaving my mark in a way that brings joy. What we need more than ever right now are ways for people to come together. Whether it’s through painting or through shared housing or whatever. Plymouth Crossing is basically a large, shared space. While each apartment in the building is a private home, the residents here are also interacting with each other. They get to meet one another and know that they’re in it together. That’s what community is: When you know you’re not alone.

It’s important to talk about bringing community together, to be surrounded by other people, especially people with diverse economic backgrounds. Especially in a city like Bellevue. It makes us all more human to be able to experience people that have different life experiences—that have a harder battle to go through in life. That’s why I love this project.

It is a huge step for all Eastside populations to realize and accept that everybody has a place here—whether they’ve experienced chronic homelessness or they’re living in a huge, nice home.

I grew up here on the Eastside. I know we’re not immune. I know things are really expensive. Inviting affordable housing and permanent supportive housing to this community makes so much sense. We have the same problems here as everywhere else. It’s about time to address it. This building is a beautiful way to do that.

Learn more about Molly Keen’s work on her website or on Facebook. To see timelapse videos of the artist at work, visit her Instagram at @mollykeenart.