Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label housing. Show all posts

Meeting our Neighbors at St. Margaret’s Place

Sunday, September 22, 2024

St. Margaret's on Aurora

Story and photos by Tamara Burdic

Frying an egg for breakfast brought Suzi Strain to tears – tears of gratitude. 

It was her first morning to wake up in her new apartment at St. Margaret’s Place

Residents Suzi Strain and Malcom Welch
 “For me it’s been survival for my whole life, since I was a little street kid in pigtails. This is the happiest I’ve ever been – I get to live. I don’t have to worry where I’m going to lay my head at night,” she says. 

Ms. Strain moved into her apartment last December. 

St. Margaret’s, at 198th and Aurora, is a designated permanent housing facility with 100 units, and serves tenants who are exiting homelessness, or are in danger of becoming unhoused.

The lobby is light and airy with a community gathering space featuring game tables.

Today, Suzi Strain relishes her newfound stability and community. At age 57 she aspires to write a book to help people by sharing her experiences. 

“Nobody knows the story– what it’s like to be us, until they become us. We are not ‘lesser than.’ Everyone is one step away from homelessness. I want Shoreline residents to know that St. Margaret’s is a great addition to the community – because it makes a lot of people stable, who might not have been stable before.”

Malcom Welch is a veteran who organized a support group for the other veterans at St. Margaret's

Malcolm Welch, one of the founding residents, agrees. “This place feels like home,” he says. “It’s like a beacon of hope for other people who want to change their lives.” 

Mr. Welch is a 67 year-old veteran who lives on the 5th floor, where all of the units are occupied by veterans. 

There is a community garden and a covered back patio for residents

He is the leader of an informal support group that he organized for fellow vets on-site. 

“We are a unique portion of society who understand each other and what we are going through.” 

Having stable housing gives Mr. Welch time to pursue his dream of becoming a counselor. He is working on his credentials through a workforce development program –  Aspiring Social Service Employee Training Program. (ASSET).

St. Margaret's has 100 units and sits on land donated by the City of Shoreline

In his downtime, Mr. Welch likes to relax in front of the apartment building, (which faces Aurora Avenue and 198th) and talk with people who walk by. He takes great pride in his building –”You have to take care of your place and it’s up to us residents.” 

He has no patience for those disrespecting his home. “It’s okay to dig through the garbage, but don’t dump your trash. I’ll tell them!” Around the back of the building there is a covered patio, a dog run, and a small community vegetable garden.

The building has a commercial kitchen

The lobby is light, airy and welcoming. There is a community kitchen and comfortable gathering areas to socialize and hang out. The front desk and office areas are staffed with four to five case managers at all times. 

“They have our backs here, 24/7. They go out of their way to support us and help us accomplish what we need done,” says Ms. Strain.

One of the Resident Staff Support workers, Justine, adds, “I’ve also been homeless and was in addiction recovery. I love coming to work every day and supporting the residents – letting them know that they are seen.”
Suzi Strain and volunteer Steve Polich

There are many ways for Shoreline residents to connect with members of the community living at St. Margaret’s, especially with the fall and winter holidays coming up quickly:

Volunteer:
  • Cook a meal in the on-site kitchen
  • Help with holiday parties, game nights and movie nights–a great way to mingle with the residents!
Donate:
  • Clothing
  • Food
  • Money
  • Hygiene products
  • Holiday gifts
Volunteer Pat Deagen talks with Suzi and Malcomb

If you would like to be involved, please contact Gina Fudacz, Program Manager at GinaFu@ccsw.org or 206-677-1359

St. Margaret’s Place was created through a collaboration with Catholic Housing Services and King County, with land provided by the City of Shoreline.


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LFP Housing Forum September 18, 2024 explains how new laws affect LFP residents

Friday, September 6, 2024


LFP Housing Forum
Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
at Lake Forest Park City Hall or virtual

What is Middle, or Co- housing? What are CLTs, ADUs, and DADUs?

Recently, Washington State passed significant legislation to increase housing options to enable more density. 

What are the laws and how will they impact you? 

Residents of Lake Forest Park wanting to learn have worked with LFP City staff to develop a Housing Forum where community members can begin to understand the new laws and how they can work to increase density, preserve the environment, and project how they can grow and keep their culture intact.

  • Maddy Larson, LFP resident and past City Planning Commissioner will moderate the forum.
  • Mayor Tom French will give a historic perspective on housing needs and ways we can continue into the future.
  • Mark Phillips, past City council member will provide demographics and characteristics of our LFP community and how that compares to the region.
  • Mark Hofman, LFP Community Development Director, will explain the new housing laws, and local efforts to comply in our city. In addition, he will discuss ways to create accessory dwelling units and what they can be used for.

“Where Do We Go from Here?” Following the presentation, there will be Community Conversations and Q/A centered round this topic.

For more information visit the LFP City Calendar

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Planning Commission discusses Middle Housing at July 18, 2024 meeting

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Shoreline Planning Commission
By Pam Cross

The Planning Commission Regular Meeting of July 18, 2024 was held in the Council Chamber using a hybrid format where both in-person and online attendance is allowed.

Staff Presentation by:
  • Elise Keim, Planning Manager
  • Steve Szafran, Senior Planner
  • Emily Larson, Otak

Study Item 6-1(c) 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update - Middle Housing Public Participation Summary and Draft Regulations

Public Comment (letters)
During the 2023 legislative session the Washington State Legislature passed House Bill 1110, also known as the Middle Housing bill, which requires cities to allow middle housing in low-density residential zones within six months of their comprehensive plan adoption

With this new state mandate Shoreline again pursued grant funding to update the city’s zoning code to allow middle housing in compliance with HB 1110. (Staff Report; emphasis added)

Middle Housing has been before the Planning Commission five times. In opening comments, commissioners talked about how they approached these discussions. 

We don’t want our city to become a bunch of really big buildings with some pathways in between. And since we are still growing, we need to keep people’s wants and needs front and center so they want to continue to live here, and the next generation will want to stay here too. 

In order to foster communication to determine a shared vision, there was a lot of public outreach. As a part of that they prepared an informational handout briefly summarizing middle housing.

Feedback



One thing that people were skeptical about is whether middle housing is going to move the needle on affordable housing. There appears to be a preference for lower height and smaller buildings in residential neighborhoods. 

Based on this preference, staff are looking at a form-based residential code rather than the current units-based code. “The code will focus on building height, width, and depth” as well as pedestrian and vehicle access.

Per HB 1110 no on-site parking is required for middle housing within ½ mile of a major transit stop. Staff is proposing 0 stalls per unit in accordance with HB 1110, and 1 stall per unit for those farther than 1/2 mile of a major transit stop.

Proposed permitted housing types


NR-3 includes those areas that are currently zoned R4 and R6, and are further from transit.

Further discussion covered zoning (allowed uses and set-backs); fire requirements (for access, required hydrants, fire impact fees); potential side sewer upgrades; curb and sidewalk requirements; electricity to be underground.

Sprinklers are already required for new residential buildings and unit conversions. Middle housing will be subject to the same rules as single family dwellings.

*AMI is Area Median Income.

The above reference to Affordable Housing makes it clear that Middle Housing is not synonymous with Affordable Housing.

If a builder/owner/developer includes 1 or 2 units of affordable housing, they are able to build additional units as shown above.


Per HB 1110 middle housing cannot have any standards more restrictive than those standards for detached housing. 

Staff are proposing to repeal Single Family Detached Residential Design regulations and replace it with Neighborhood Residential Design regulations. These are zone-based design standards and would also apply to any detached housing that occurs in these zones. 

With that in mind, staff are proposing a light-touch on design standards and focusing on those standards that have public support and promote the city’s vision. (Staff report)

Go to this link FAQ HB 1110 to see a quick interpretation of this complicated HB 1110 prepared by the Washington Association of Cities

Middle Housing is scheduled to come before the City Council on July 29, 2024 as a Discussion Item. There will be no action taken at the meeting but I expect councilmembers will have questions. It will be interesting to hear what they have to say.


 

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Bothell council votes to donate downtown lot for affordable housing

Friday, July 19, 2024

By Oliver Moffat

At the July 16 meeting, the Bothell City Council voted 5 to 2 in favor of donating a downtown lot to Bothell United Methodist Church for affordable housing.



Bothell spent roughly $20.6 million starting in 2009 to buy 18 acres in downtown from the Northshore School District. Since then, the city has sold eight properties for more than $28.8 million. The city still owns a number of lots downtown including the 1.67 acre lot known as P-South a block from Pop Keeney Stadium.

As previously reported, instead of selling P-South for a profit, the city intends to donate the land to Bothell United Methodist Church (BUMC) to be developed into affordable housing.

According to the plan, BUMC will lease the land to BRIDGE Housing (the developers building affordable housing at the Northgate Transit Station). The building will have 200 units of affordable housing, human services, job training, and community space.

Mayor Mason Thompson spoke in support of the project. 

“Over 99 years, 200 units: this will help thousands of people with one of the biggest needs we have in our community… And it will make Bothell a more welcoming city, a more vibrant city,” he said. 
“I’m really excited to see this project in the ground because I think this is the kind of impact that's worth us investing in. Especially when it's with a local partner that has been around since before Bothell was Bothell,” said Thompson.

Council member Jeanne Zornes opposed the donation. “We've been told that there is interest in buying this property for $10 million. This is a generous give from the city and I have heard no gratitude, no ‘thank yous,’” she said.

Council member Benjamin Mahnkey also voted against the proposal over concerns the project would take too long or fail. “A five year timeline for shovels to hit the ground does concern me a lot. It's going to be an empty vacant property in its current state during this time. There's no guarantee that funding will be obtained.”



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Bothell council considering donating land for affordable housing downtown

Friday, July 5, 2024

Lot P South is a vacant lot in downtown Bothell the city is considering donating for affordable housing. Photo by Sara Lorimer

By Oliver Moffat

Between the library and the Pop Keeney Stadium in downtown Bothell is a vacant lot the city purchased from the North Shore School District for $1.9 million in 2010 known as “Lot P-South”.

The city spent roughly $2 million settling a lawsuit and cleaning up petroleum contamination at the 1.67 acre lot and in 2022, the parcel was appraised at $6 million dollars.

But instead of selling Lot P South at a profit, as the city has for other nearby lots, Bothell is now seeking to donate the site to Bothell United Methodist Church to be developed into affordable housing.

At the June 25, 2024 meeting, the Bothell City Council discussed transferring the property to Bothell United Methodist Church which has a plan to build affordable apartments at the site.

A map from the Bothell city website shows the location of Lot P-South

The building would provide 200 rental units affordable to people making 50-60% of the median income and include community space and office space for human services. A cafe retail space offering training for hard to employ residents would also be included.

Councilmember Jeanne Zornes raised concerns about the donation, “would the city of Bothell do better financially selling that for $6 million and buying a piece of property and putting it somewhere else”, she said, “we're not flush with cash and we're not flush with surplus property.”

 Mayor Mason Thompson pushed back against criticism that the city should sell the property for maximum profit, “The property acquisition didn't happen in a vacuum. It happened along with a lot of other properties and to my knowledge the other properties that we've sold […] were all sold to pretty much the highest bidder,” he said.

“I don't view this as gifting them the property. I view this as an investment in 200 affordable housing units and community amenities. And if we want affordable housing, this is what it takes,” said Mayor Thompson.

Earlier this year, the Kenmore city council backed out of a plan to donate a parcel of land to build 100 units of affordable homes for disabled seniors facing homelessness after emotionally charged backlash from some residents. The city of Redmond swooped in to save that project (and snagged the tens of millions of dollars already raised for the project).

In November of 2023, Shoreline opened St. Margaret’s Place to provide 100 units for tenants experiencing homelessness. The city of Shoreline donated the land at N 198th Street and Aurora Avenue.

According to the King County Regional Homeless Authority’s 2024 point in time count, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the region increased to 16,385 (a 23% rise) from the 2022 estimate.

Updated 7-5-2024

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Shoreline Planning Commission Meeting Thursday, June 6, 2024

Saturday, June 29, 2024

L-R: Christopher Mosier (behind), Julie Povick, Bradley Cabe, Leslie Brinson, Mei-shiou Lin, Lauren Hadley, and Colt Fry

By Pam Cross

The Shoreline Planning Commission Meeting Thursday, June 6, 2024 was held in the Council Chamber using a hybrid format where both in-person and online attendance is allowed.

The Commissioners are Christopher Mosier (absent), Leslie Brinson (absent), ,Julie Povick, Bradley Cabe, Mei-shiou Lin, and Colt Fry (absent)

This was an update to the 2024 Comprehensive Plan - Middle Housing discussion of the following issues from House Bill 1110:
  • Tier Options
  • Alternative Compliance
  • Draft Land Use Maps
Staff Presentation by
  • Andrew Bauer, Planning Director
  • Elise Keim, Planning Manager
  • Steve Szafran, Senior Planner
  • Emily Larson, Otak

Otak, Inc. is an award-winning urban design, architecture, planning and engineering firm. They are involved in the Ronald Bog Basin Study and The Shoreline Interurban Trail.


TIER OPTIONS

TIER 2

At the Planning Commission meeting of May 20, 2024 it was stated that Shoreline’s population of approximately 61,120 designates it as Tier 2. The Commission discussed whether the city should move to a Tier 1 designation now in order to avoid having to change everything as our city continues to grow.

Staff recommended staying with Tier 2 for a variety of reasons including anticipated time to reach Tier 1 status (estimated 12 years), and allowing more time to scale up the city infrastructure.

TIER 2.5
At this June 6th meeting, a Tier 2.5 was added for discussion purposes.


The change from Tier 2 to Tier 2.5 affects significantly more areas of Shoreline.

Additionally, 2.5 adds “High Activity Areas” and an associated 1/4 mile buffer. High Activity areas include commercial centers or nodes with grocery stores, restaurants, and/or retail. Civic facilities such as a library or post office would also be included.


The attachments mentioned in the chart are part of the Staff Report.

HB1110 - Standard or Alternative Compliance

In addition to the new base requirement for middle housing, Alternative Compliance options are available.

Risk of Displacement

The staff report defines Displacement as when a household is forced or pressured to move due to reasons beyond the householder’s control.
  • Physical: demolition, eviction, natural disaster
  • Economic: rising rents or property taxes
  • Cultural: cultural institutions/communities leave
Staff recommended exempting lots subject to sea level rise and flood hazards.

Other critical areas will be protected with regulations. And higher displacement risk can be addressed through policy and implementation. Additional details are included in the staff report.

LAND USE

The new land use designations will also become the zoning designations eliminating the confusion when trying to comply with both zoning and land use.

This is a work in progress. While it was stated that current R-4 and R-6 would be changed to NR3 (Neighborhood Residential 3), there are lots currently zoned R-4 or R-6 that meeting criteria to move to N2 would be changed to N2 which is more intense than NR3 with higher building heights, more allowed types of housing, and some small commercial.

It’s important to keep in mind that R-4, which was based on population, has less density than R-6 or R-18. The number gets higher as density increases.

But NR1 is “the most intense neighborhood residential zone where building heights may exceed three stories, with more types of commercial.” (Staff report)

The number gets lower as density increases.

The only speaker at public comment was Jonathan Lounds, representing the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. He stated the MBA prefers changing to Tier 1. The MBA appreciates Tier 2.5 being considered but suggests allowing 6 units per lot within a 1/2 block of major transit, and 6 units per lot within 1/4 mile of a high activity area.


HOUSING

The scope of housing in comprehensive plans has expanded dramatically. It’s no longer just about the number of units, but a deeper analysis to address people's needs and incomes. Shoreline will be looking into an affordable housing plan, including planning, funding and budget.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Residents have stated they would like more shopping and dining opportunities in Shoreline.

Other topics briefly touched on included 
  • auto-dependent uses such as drive throughs. Can this be done on a policy level? They will have to talk to the business community. Drive-throughs are a salvation to parents
  • The large number of lots under Homeowners Associations control. Many of them appear to limit middle housing. The City may have to work with HOAs to include middle housing opportunities

DISCUSSION COMMENTS

The houses of “baby boomers” will be hitting the market in the next 20 or so years. This needs to be a consideration in our discussions.

If we are ahead already of where we need to be, should we be even farther ahead?

It’s hard to visualize 4 units per parcel without stacking units. R-6 allowed 6 units per parcel (acre). Now we are talking per “lot”.

What does this mean now? 6 “units” or 6 “houses”? Per acre? Per lot?

Shoreline has a lot of smaller units. Family housing is in short supply. Should we continue this way?

Displacement is important to address. Owners of property are unable to stay there. Who are these high risk people?

Affordable housing in Shoreline. Is it really affordable? I reached out to all affordable housing in Shoreline as a potential renter. I had several persistent responses over a month. There appear to be vacancy issues. We need to consider affordability before we build even more “affordable” housing. We have a lot of vacancies in Shoreline. It is worth looking into

Planning Commissioners favored Tier 2.5


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Donate Land. Build Hope.


Compass Housing Alliance has introduced a new initiative: Donate Land. Build Hope.

This transformative program invites you to become an agent of change by donating land to Compass Housing Alliance. 

Your generous contribution can help us create affordable housing, enhanced emergency shelters, and a foundation of stability and hope for those trying to find a path home. 

By donating land, you have the power to transform lives. More than that, however, your gift will help build a community of hope and support for those experiencing homelessness and housing instability.

Please reach out to our dedicated team at land@compasshousingalliance.org to discuss your land donation and make a lasting impact today.

DONATE LAND. BUILD HOPE.


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Transportation and Middle Housing discussed at the May 20 Shoreline Council meeting

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

The locations of three new projects added to the Transportation Improvement Plan are marked on a map

By Oliver Moffat

At the May 20 meeting, the city council approved a new Transportation Improvement Plan with some amendments, discussed Electric Scooter and Bike Sharing, and provided feedback on the Comprehensive Plan.

Every year, the city council is required to approve a list of transportation projects for the subsequent six-years. The city council made three amendments to the Transportation Improvement Plan before approval: an unfunded bike bridge to Edmonds over SR 104, proposed improvements to Firlands Way, and splitting the 185th project into separate east and west projects.

Regional bike advocates lobbied the city council to build a non-motorized bridge over SR 104 where a one mile gap in the Interurban Trail between Shoreline and Edmonds drives cyclists onto busy streets. The city council agreed to pitch in $40,000 to study the project but (given staffing shortages) the city did not sound eager to commit to yet another big bike bridge project.

One block to the east of the CRISTA retirement community and one block west of the new Canopy apartment complex is Firlands Way N. A citizen-initiated proposal could convert the road with 90 feet of city-owned right of way into a six acre, tree-lined pedestrian friendly public space. 

The proposal could be both a transportation project and a park project and bring badly needed open space to the rapidly urbanizing neighborhood near Aurora. The city council added a plan to study the Firlands Way proposal to the transportation plan.

After hearing safety concerns about 180th Street from residents in North City, council member Eben Pobee sponsored an amendment to separate the 180th and 10th Ave segments of the 185th corridor project into a distinct project called the “North City Light Rail Connector”. 

Largely symbolic, the name change doesn’t increase the priority or funding for the project, but raises the visibility of a smaller project that was previously buried inside a larger project.

 A screenshot shows council member Betsy Robertson saying “All those folks who don’t want to see the additional housing, they are all comfortably housed.”

Although it wasn’t on the agenda, the topic of what kinds of Middle Housing the city should allow came up while discussing the Comprehensive Plan.

Mayor Chris Roberts said he wants to “double down” and “embrace middle housing of all types” not just meet the minimum density rules required by state law. “I hope the planning commission brings back policies that give us the big version of what middle housing could look like in Shoreline. And then we can work with our affordable housing developers to say ‘okay, what do you need’ and how do we get really truly affordable housing in our city,” said Roberts.

Council member Annette Ademasu disagreed with the push for more middle housing. “I’m hearing from people out there… they don’t want to see corner to corner… townhomes. They would rather see more green space interspersed when we are looking at middle housing,“ said Ademasu.

“All those folks who don’t want to see the additional housing, they are all comfortably housed,” council member Betsy Robertson said in response. “And we have a housing crisis and we need to add more units. And Shoreline is committed to doing that,” said Robertson.


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How Middle Housing HB 1110 will affect the City of Shoreline

Saturday, May 25, 2024

By Pam Cross

On May 14, 2024 NUHSA hosted a very successful Affordable Housing 101 Lunch & Learn in recognition of Affordable Housing Week 2024. The event featured a presentation by the Housing Development Consortium on the regional landscape for housing, as well as updates from each of the five North King County cities.

As part of the event, NUHSA introduced its Housing and Homelessness Glossary as a resource for facilitating community conversations. The event hosted nearly 90 participants and ended with community Q/A.

The recording of this event and the glossary are now available to community members for circulation HERE.


In 2023 the Washington State Legislature passed House Bill 1110, known as the Middle Housing bill.

On May 16, 2024 the Planning Commission discussed  what this bill might mean for Shoreline and its Comprehensive Plan. Because it is a new bill and will require broad changes statewide, the Commission outlined a “high-level preview of code updates to come.” This was not intended to be a comprehensive analysis.

Initial Code Updates

Our current zoning for residential properties is defined on density of housing units. The R-6 zone allows 6 units per acre, for example. The proposed rezoning will move away from density-based development to “form-based” development. Housing regulations will be based on building form, site design, housing type, lot coverage, as well as landscaping/open space and tree retention. This will require the Development code to be updated to the new language.

Graphics from Planning Commission report May 16, 2024

(Note: since the new Neighborhood Zones are conversions from density based zones, density does not disappear as a consideration. Only the name has changed. However, going forward the City will undoubtedly redefine the NR zones to bring the new housing regulations for “form-based” development.)

(Note: R-6 can be converted to either Neighborhood Residential 1 or 2, as shown above. This is important to know because allowable density in NR1 is twice the density of NR2. R-6 represents the greatest number of zoning lots in Shoreline as seen below.)

(Source: zoneomics.com)

HB 1110 Middle housing requirements


Source: Planning Commission May 16, 2024

HB 1110 Middle housing requirements for cities are based on city population and cities are assigned to a tier.

Shoreline’s population of approximately 61,120 designates it as Tier 2. However it is possible to move to a Tier 1 designation in order to avoid have to change everything as our city continues to grow. Should Shoreline adopt Tier 1 status now?

Staff recommends staying with Tier 2 for a variety of reasons including anticipated time to reach Tier 1 status (estimated 12 years), allowing more time to scale up, as necessary, public works, fire department and utilities, and infrastructure..

HB1110 - Standard or Alternative Compliance?

In addition to the new base requirement for middle housing, Alternative Compliance options are available. 

The City is taking a close look at the multiple Compliance options as it works to draft a middle housing code. The alternative options consider:
  • Risk of Displacement utilizing sociodemographic assessment (equity),
  • Redevelopment Attractors from Amenity Factors (access to parks, schools, transit, business locations)
  • Physical displacement (evictions, foreclosures, tenant relocation assistance applications),
  • Critical Areas (wetlands, areas with critical recharging effect on aquifers used for potable water)
  • Fish and wildlife habitat
  • Geological hazardous areas
As you can see, much more study is needed and future legislation is coming.

HB 1337 ADUs

Another newly passed bill HB 1337 addresses ADUs. This does not really work well with HB 1110, since ADUs are not “starter houses” purchased by first time homebuyers, but rentals existing on a homeowner’s property. Coordination of these two bills adds another dimension.

Newly built multiple homes on one lot will not result in Middle Housing (“starter homes”) if developers maintain ownership and use them as rented multifamily homes.

Implementation of these new state bills will greatly change Shoreline as the population grows over the next 20 years. And once changes to the Comprehensive Plan are adopted, it is time consuming and difficult to amend them.

It is important to read the Planning Commission report and/or listen to the Planning Commission 5/16 meeting to get a rudimentary understanding of the changes. We are going to hear a lot more about this over the next months and years.

Get a good start so you have at least a basic understanding so you can follow along with this journey into the future.

5-26-2024 Text is the same, but major revisions to arrangement of graphics. Links added.

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Middle housing is on its way to Shoreline - tell the City what you think

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

The City of Shoreline has created a survey to seek input from residents and community members on residential design to ensure that middle housing seamlessly integrates into our existing neighborhoods.

Share your thoughts!  Take the survey before May 31, 2024 here

What is Middle Housing?

Middle Housing is a term for homes that are at a middle scale between detached single-family houses and large-scale multifamily developments. 

These types are typically “house-scale”; meaning, the buildings are about the same height as detached houses. 

Middle housing provides housing choices that have been missing from the housing market for decades and will allow for more efficient use of land and more attainable workforce housing.

Examples of Middle Housing include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, fiveplexes, sixplexes, courtyard apartments, cottage housing, stacked flats, and townhomes.


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Affordable Housing 101 Virtual Lunch & Learn May 14, 2024

Saturday, April 27, 2024


Affordable Housing 101 Virtual Lunch & Learn
Tues. May 14th (12-1 p.m.)
Register here

What is affordable housing and how can we ensure everyone has a place to call home in North King County? 

Join us as we explore relevant concepts and terms and provide an overview of the regional housing landscape and needs in Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell and Woodinville.

Hosted by the North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) in partnership with Housing Development Consortium (HDC) and our city partners as part of Affordable Housing Week

This series of education and advocacy events throughout King County highlights the role affordable housing plays in stabilizing our communities and creating momentum for investments and policies to ensure affordable, thriving and equitable communities. 

Learn about other events here.
 
Questions? Email staff@nuhsa.org or call 206-550-5626. 


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UW Medicine: Report outlines illicit drug-use patterns across Washington

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

A staffer, right, at a Seattle syringe services program site talks with a client about harm reduction.
Photo by Susan Kingston

Across Washington state, heroin use has dropped considerably, fentanyl use has climbed, and methamphetamine continues to be highly prevalent — all according to a new survey of syringe-services program participants.

These and other findings emerged from the Syringe Services Program Health Survey in a report published by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The report’s collaborators included Public Health-Seattle & King County and the Washington State Department of Health.

Nearly 40 syringe services programs operate in 25 of Washington’s 39 counties. The last such survey occurred in late fall 2021 and involved 955 respondents. This time, 24 syringe-services programs took part, with staff and volunteers administering the in-person questionnaire to 1,667 voluntary participants between October 2023 and January 2024.

Other primary findings in the report: 
  • Most (89%) respondents said they had smoked a drug in the previous week, in contrast with other means of ingestion; 36% had both smoked and injected drugs, and only 10% had injected drugs exclusively. (In 2021, by contrast, 93%, of respondents reported injecting drugs.)
  • 55% of respondents were unhoused and an additional 25% had only temporary or unstable housing. Among these respondents, two-thirds said they would reduce or quit using their main drug if they had stable housing.
  • Participants said they would take advantage of additional services at their syringe-services program: 75% said they would see a healthcare provider and 68% would see a mental health counselor at the site where they took the survey.

“What struck me most about the survey results is the huge and continued need for the basics: housing, healthcare and support,” said Alison Newman, a report coauthor from the Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute. “We can learn so much from talking to people directly about their health and what services might help them.”

Among survey respondents this time, 80% had no housing or temporary housing. This percentage was substantially higher than the 66% of respondents who reported living in those conditions in 2021, said Caleb Banta-Green, a report coauthor and a regional expert on addiction.

“Some people are using opioids to numb the trauma of insecure housing, and some are using meth because they feel it helps them function. Being housed would give them a lot more stability in their lives and allow them to fully engage in treatment, whereas on the street they can’t really do that,” he said.

Among respondents, more had used methamphetamine (89%) in the preceding week than fentanyl (61%). Among users of either of those drugs, more than half reported ingesting them at least five days per week.

“There’s still a lot of meth out there,” Banta-Green said, adding that mortality data for the drugs suggests that “if fentanyl didn’t exist, we’d be ringing the alarm bells over methamphetamine.” 
Nevertheless, use of fentanyl has “completed dwarfed heroin,” he said, a change that has, in parallel, spurred a huge shift away from drug injection and toward drug smoking.

In response to that shift, several syringe services sites are providing or planning to offer smoking supplies in addition to sterile syringes “to reduce the spread of infectious disease and to provide an alternative to higher-risk drug injection,” the report stated. Washington’s State Legislature enacted a law in 2023 allowing these programs to legally provide smoking equipment.

While sharing a pipe is much less likely to transmit infectious disease than sharing a needle, many drug users carry the misperception that it’s harder to overdose when smoking a drug, Banta-Green said.

“Fentanyl and meth are both so powerful that smoking is not protective against overdose. We want to make sure folks understand that,” he said.

Given that survey respondents expressed a strong interest in receiving healthcare and mental care onsite, and considering Washington’s new health-engagement hub model, Banta-Green said he sees “great potential to create much more access to lifesaving care.”

The Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Institute is part of the UW School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.

Related: Newman and Banta-Green will discuss the findings at a webinar at 1pm Thursday, May 2, 2024. The online event is open to the public. Register here.


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King County Housing Authority preserves 54 units of affordable rental housing in Shoreline

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Henry House is now a KCHA property

Purchase of Henry House in Richmond Highlands supports long-term housing stability

Shoreline, WA - King County Housing Authority (KCHA) finalized the purchase of a multifamily apartment community in the Richmond Highlands neighborhood of Shoreline WA, preserving 54 units of rental housing, 39 of which are subsidized through federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) project-based subsidies, as an ongoing affordable option for individuals and families.

The KCHA purchase of Henry House strengthens affordability protections and preserves access to federal subsidies for current residents.

The Henry House property, located at 351 NW Richmond Beach Road, is situated on a 1.55-acre parcel and includes 54 units ranging from one-bedroom to family-friendly three-bedroom units. KCHA closed on the property March 29, 2024, at a purchase price of $9.95 million.

KCHA purchased the apartment complex amid rising rents and concerns that private ownership may have jeopardized the preservation of federal subsidies on the site, creating a risk that lower-income residents could be pushed out. KCHA ownership ensures housing stability and access to federal support for current and future residents.

Henry House is surrounded by residential single-family homes, condominiums and apartment communities. The property includes on-site parking, laundry facilities, patios, and balconies. 

Bus stops on NW Richmond Beach Road, directly in front of Henry House, serve Route 302 and 348, which provide access throughout Shoreline and to Seattle. 

Henry House is in Shoreline School District and is within a 1.5-mile radius of several good schools and is within walking distance to numerous parks including Hillside Park, Innis Arden Reserve, Richmond Beach Saltwater Park and Shoreview Park.

“We are pleased to support the Shoreline community by preserving the affordable housing at Henry House and supporting current residents,” said KCHA Executive Director Robin Walls. 
“KCHA is dedicated to preserving and expanding the region’s supply of affordable housing. We are pleased to support the Shoreline community in working towards that goal, and we know how important it is to support current residents with continued federal subsidy. We are doubling down on programs we know are working to help residents stay in their neighborhoods.”

KCHA, a mission-driven organization established under state law, assists more than 23,000 households on a daily basis. 

The Authority, whose service area includes all of King County outside of the cities of Seattle and Renton, administers rental housing assistance, develops and manages affordable housing, provides support services to low-income residents, and works closely with community stakeholders to address local priorities such as ending homelessness, improving educational outcomes for the region’s low-income youth, and assuring that disabled and elderly households can live with dignity.

CORRECTION: Henry House is on Richmond Beach Road but actually in the Richmond Highlands Neighborhood. It is in the area referred to as 4-Corners where four neighborhoods meet.


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Sen. Cantwell secures $6.5 million for housing for homeless children and veterans

Sunday, March 10, 2024

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Senate’s leading champion for affordable housing, announced that six housing projects she supported in the State of Washington will receive federal funding.

“These projects will create new housing for the people in the State of Washington who need it the most, including families with children, low-income veterans, and people experiencing homelessness. 

"Affordable housing projects boost our economy, revitalize communities, and drive down inflation -- I will continue to advocate for investments and legislation that help us build more,” Sen. Cantwell said.

A total of $6,566,279 is going toward the six projects:

Edmonds - Scriber Place Affordable Housing for Homeless Students: $1,500,000 to construct 52 units of permanently affordable housing for families with children in the Edmonds School District who are experiencing homelessness.

Kittitas County - HopeSource Veterans Housing: $1,616,279 to construct 12 units of affordable rental units dedicated to low-income senior veterans in Kittitas County.

Seattle - Mary’s Place Emergency Family Shelter: $1,000,000 to rebuild an aging emergency shelter to provide safe shelter and services for up to 70 families with children experiencing homelessness.

Tacoma - Micro-Shelter Expansion: $850,000 to purchase 75 micro-shelter units to support individuals transitioning to permanent supportive housing, as well as the demolition and preparation of a long-term location for the micro-shelters.

Makah Reservation Workforce Housing: $800,000 to construct six duplexes on the Makah Reservation for essential workers.

Sequim – Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County Workforce Housing: $800,000 to construct infrastructure for 42 affordable workforce homes in Sequim.


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Legislation to allow Co-Living Housing passes House and Senate

Friday, February 23, 2024

State Sen. Jesse Salomon
OLYMPIA – Legislation to remove barriers to building co-living housing in Washington state passed the Senate Thursday.

House Bill 1998, sponsored by Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-Bellevue), would require cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act to allow co-living housing in any residential zone within an urban growth area that allows multifamily housing.

“This is a big step forward for affordable housing,” said Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-Shoreline), who sponsored the Senate companion. 
“We have seen a worrisome rise in senior homelessness, and many of our young adults are unable to afford housing near work or school. Co-living can offer clean, safe housing and a sense of community for people.”

Under the bill, co-living housing is any residential development with individual, rented, lockable units where residents share kitchen facilities with other units. If enacted, cities and counties would be directed to allow co-living development no later than December 31, 2025. 

The bill also prevents them from instituting co-living housing standards that are more restrictive than those required for other types of multifamily residential housing in the same zone.

“Rep. Gregerson and I worked so hard on this bill because we know it will help people,” Salomon said. “This is a way to get affordable housing on the market quickly and without subsidies. That’s really hard to do in our current housing environment.”
Having been amended, the bill now heads to the House for concurrence.

Sen. Jesse Salomon, D-Shoreline, represents the 32nd Legislative District, which includes Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Seattle, Shoreline, Woodway, and unincorporated Snohomish County.

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Shoreline Council moves to expand Twin Ponds Park

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

A map from the city’s website shows the location of properties the city of Shoreline would like to purchase to expand Twin Ponds park.

By Oliver Moffat

Directly south of Twin Ponds park are a row of homes built in the 1950s and early 1960s. The single family homes are visible from the tennis/pickleball court, the community gardens and the arboretum.

If the owners of those homes are willing to sell, those parcels could become part of the park in the future - expanding the 22-acre park in the neighborhood near the 148th street light-rail station.

A photo from the city’s website shows Twin Ponds in the evening from the boardwalk.

The Shoreline city council voted unanimously to expand Twin Ponds Park by purchasing one of the parcels at the Monday, February 12, city council meeting. The 0.17 acre parcel is located on N 149th Street a block away from the property on 150th the city purchased in August of 2023.

The city was awarded Conservation Futures Tax (CFT) Levy funds to pay for 75% of the acquisition. The rest of the cost would be paid from Park Impact Fees. King County Conservation Futures is a program that provides grants to acquire open space. Park Impact Fees are collected by the city from new developments to pay for parks.

Unlike eminent domain, the city can only use CFT funds to purchase property from willing buyers.

A photo from the city’s website shows the Twin Ponds playground.

According to the CFT Application once acquired, the city could build trails to allow access to the park from the south while restoring native tree canopy and wetlands.

According to the 2017-2023 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan, Shoreline needs an additional 95 acres of park land with 43 of those acres within the 145th and 185th light-rail subareas. For comparison, Hamlin Park is 80 acres.

On average the city has 7.38 acres of parkland in walking distance of every 1,000 residents. But within the Parkwood neighborhood where Twin Ponds is located, there are only 5.7 acres per 1,000 residents.

The city expects 15,000 new residents by 2035 with 75% of that growth in the light-rail subareas. There are 1,605 new homes coming soon in the south Parkwood neighborhood including 151 “missing middle” townhomes and 296 affordable apartments.


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