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

Salomon prepares to move co-living housing bill through Senate

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Sen. Jesse Salamon, D-32
OLYMPIA – Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-Shoreline) announced Friday that he will begin work to pass HB 1998 through the Senate.

Salomon collaborated with Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-Bellevue) during the 2023-2024 interim to develop the bill, which would remove restrictions on the development of co-living housing. 

Each legislator then introduced the bill in their respective chamber.

“I have been interested in the co-living housing model for a while,” Salomon said. “The co-living model is a way to get affordable housing on the market without subsidies. That’s really hard to do in today’s overheated housing environment.”

Under the bill, co-living housing is defined as any residential development with individual rented, lockable units where residents share kitchen facilities with other units. 

If the bill is passed, cities and counties planning under the Growth Management Act would be required to allow co-living housing in any residential zone within an urban growth area that allows multifamily housing.

“It was very encouraging to see the bill pass unanimously in the House on Wednesday,” Salomon said. “I’m feeling very confident about our chances to pass this bill. Everyone in the Legislature knows how essential it is that we get more affordable housing on the market.”
 
The bill will be assigned to a Senate committee for public hearing in the coming days. Its progress can be tracked here.


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Shoreline Council approves Affordable Housing Tax Exemption for The Line Apartments

Friday, February 9, 2024

The Evergreen Point website shows the crane being dismantled from above The Line apartments

By Oliver Moffat

The crane above 132 NE 145th Street in the Parkwood neighborhood was dismantled in January, marking a milestone toward completion of 241 new homes in an apartment building to be called The Line.

In another milestone for the building, at the February 5, 2024 Shoreline City Council meeting, the council approved an affordable housing tax exemption for the apartments.

The Woonerf, looking south. Concept drawing

The Line will include more than 1,900 square feet of ground floor retail space and a Woonerf (pedestrian friendly road) will run through the property.

The developer is the Evergreen Point Group, who previously built the Träd apartments in Shoreline’s North City neighborhood which has since been renamed the Green Leaf.

Evergreen Point plans to build the Leeway apartments nearby at 104 NE 147th St. (see our previous article

Addressing the city’s housing affordability crisis while preserving open spaces by concentrating development in high density areas has been a priority for the city. 

A graph from the city of Shoreline shows the estimated number of new homes needed in the next twenty years versus the number of homes in 2019

According to data from the King County Housing Needs Dashboard, Shoreline needs to build 13,330 new homes before 2044 to accommodate our rising population and more than two-thirds of those homes need to be affordable to people making less than 80% of the area’s median income.

Scheduled to open in 2024, the Line apartments will have 241 homes of which 41 will be affordable to people earning less than 70% of Shoreline’s area median income (AMI) and eight will be affordable to people earning less than 80% of the AMI. Most of the affordable homes will be studios and one-bedroom apartments.

As an example, to be considered affordable a studio apartment could be rented for $1,578 per month to someone earning no more than $63,100 per year (70% AMI).

Despite the tax break, city estimates show tax revenue will increase overall. The apartment developers will still pay one-time taxes and fees totaling an estimated $1,750,000 according to the city. Because the building will have 241 homes, the city estimates it will collect $160,900 in annual tax revenues compared to the $5,300 per year it would have collected from the seven homes previously on the site of the new building.

However, to receive the tax break, apartment owners are required to present documentation to the city each year - which means city staff must spend time administering the program and enforcing compliance.

Although Shoreline’s MFTE program only requires 20% of units to be rented as affordable by the city’s definition, most buildings exceed that ratio according to city data. Shoreline currently has 14 buildings in the MFTE program that are providing 476 units of affordable housing out of 1,705 total - about 28% affordable. The data also shows another 22 MFTE apartments currently under development that will provide 1,168 affordable units out of 4,910 total (almost 24% affordable).


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Kenmore affordable housing proposal divides city

Saturday, January 20, 2024

The proposed Plymouth Affordable Housing development would be built on this lot owned by the city of Kenmore. The Kenmore branch of King County Library is visible in the background.
Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Oliver Moffat

Next to the Kenmore library and across NE Bothell Way from the asphalt plant sits a vacant lot owned by the city of Kenmore that has become the focal point of controversy in the town adjacent to Lake Forest Park at the northern shores of Lake Washington. 

A proposal to build an apartment building for disabled seniors facing homelessness has drawn fierce opposition from some vocal Kenmore residents and prompted the city to enact strict rules forbidding disruptive behavior at City Council meetings.

A screenshot from the Kenmore city website shows the proposed Plymouth Affordable Housing development to be located at NE Bothell Way and 67th Ave NE.

The proposed Plymouth affordable housing development would provide permanent homes with support services to extremely low-income individuals who earn less than 30% of the Area Median Income ($28,800/year) and are facing homelessness. 

The property is located in downtown Kenmore at the corner of NE Bothell Way and 67th Ave NE and is near public transit. The development is fully funded and if approved, Kenmore will be making progress towards the city’s top stated priority: affordable housing.

Normally, the only debate on a City Council about a feel-good project like this one would be who gets to hold the giant scissors at the ribbon cutting ceremony. 

But in Kenmore, the council is debating whether to stop the project after residents filled the City Council chambers to overflowing and gave hours and hours of emotionally charged public comments - both for and against the project.

At a nine hour meeting on Monday, December 11 that lasted until 3am, Kenmore’s Mayor Nigel Herbig struggled at times to maintain order and decorum as the raucous crowd expressed raw emotions and frustrations in public comments. 

The council voted against the proposal at the December 11 meeting. But a month later the city council reversed course again at a January 9 meeting, directing staff to come back with a revised plan that addresses community concerns. On January 18, the Council again signaled yet another course correction.

At a five hour meeting on Thursday, January 18, the Council again listened to hours of public comments from residents who filled the Council chamber. This time, public comments were limited to only two minutes and Mayor Herbig wielded a gavel to contain order. In a procedural vote, four of the seven Councilmembers voiced opposition to the Plymouth project. The Council will vote on whether to deny the proposal at the January 22 regular City Council meeting.

In public comments from residents, some opponents worried about the cost city taxpayers will pay for the project. As reported by The Urbanist in December the project’s estimated $37.5M cost is funded via a mix of city, state, federal and nonprofit sources. According to reporting by the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter, the city’s $3.2M share of the total cost will come from American Rescue Plan Act funds.

City staff warned the Council that voting against the project would amount to declining tens of millions of dollars in grants and could make it difficult to fund future affordable housing projects. 
The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) requires cities to “plan for and accommodate” affordable housing and King County Ordinance 19660 sets affordable housing targets for cities; meaning rejecting the project may make it more expensive to achieve its affordable housing goals in the long run.

A screenshot from the Kenmore Neighbors Facebook group depicts a sketched
outline of the location and possible size of the proposed Plymouth development.
Social media is the only source of local news in Kenmore.

Some opponents raised alarm that the project would bring open drug use and crime to Kenmore’s downtown. While other residents objected to the size of the six-story building that will stand over Kenmore’s core business district and raised concerns that a large apartment for low-income people would harm downtown businesses. 

To address these concerns, the proposal will require all residents to be 55+ and disabled; the building’s ground floor retail must match the city’s goals for the downtown district; a community engagement forum including residents, businesses and police will be founded; and Plymouth must commit to a “good neighbor” agreement to address public safety and other concerns.

In response to emailed questions, Mayor Herbig and Councilmember Srebnik said the Council cannot comment because of the “quasi-judicial” nature of the situation.

Earlier this month, the new City Council passed revised rules of behavior for public comment. 
The new rules of decorum restrict comments to agenda topics, forbid interruptions such as shouting, booing, and sign waving, and give the council the authority to expel people engaging in disorderly conduct from the council chambers. 
If a meeting continues to be disrupted, the Council can order the meeting room cleared except for members of the press.

An email to the editor of the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter asking if their publication would be covering local politics was not answered. As reported in The Seattle Times, the owner of the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter is attempting to avoid bankruptcy and recently announced it has been sold - leaving Kenmore without an independent local news source.

A billboard at Kenmore’s southern border on Bothell Way proclaims “Kenmore Welcomes You”
Photo courtesy city of Kenmore

Local news and politics are vigorously debated on the Kenmore Neighbors Facebook group where comments mirror the divisive and emotionally charged public comments directed at the City Council. 

A post on the Nextdoor app about the development was taken down after comments devolved into mudslinging, disinformation and hate speech. A Nextdoor moderator who asked to remain anonymous because they have faced hostility and threats said that although discussions of local political topics are allowed on the app, disinformation and hate speech have risen on the platform.

Founded in 1980 by members of downtown Seattle’s Plymouth Congregational Church, Plymouth Housing owns 19 buildings and is one of the largest permanent supportive housing providers in the region with over 1,200 residents. 

Plymouth provides supportive services to its residents and practices a “housing first” approach which emphasizes getting people into homes before anything else - without asking people to "prove" they are ready for housing.

In emailed comments a spokesperson from Plymouth Housing said, 
“On the heels of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we believe this important project is a chance to move closer to Dr. King’s vision of equity and justice - including for vulnerable people who want to be your neighbors in Kenmore… 
"We truly hope that […] a small fraction of Kenmore residents or a few Councilmembers will not stand in the way of 100 new homes for vulnerable people who need them.”

This would not be the first institution in Kenmore offering housing support to people in need. According to reporting by the Bothell-Kenmore Reporter Hopelink’s Kenmore Place shelter has been operating as a homeless family shelter in Kenmore for more than 30 years. Kenmore Place (owned by the King County Housing Authority, and operated by Hopelink) provides shelter for families in crisis.

Mary's Place Northshore is another homeless shelter that has been operating in Kenmore since 2017. In emailed comments, a spokesperson from Mary’s Place said 

“We are fortunate and so grateful to have a wonderful relationship with the community – lots of donations and volunteer support! … We find that the Northshore community cares deeply for their neighbors and want to help. It’s our hope that the same will be true of the Plymouth development.”


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Public comment period for Parkwood Shoreline III Apartments now open

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

A map from SEPA review documents shows the Shoreline III site.

By Oliver Moffat

Developers building an apartment along in the southeast corner of the Parkwood neighborhood on 147th street have posted site plans for review and the public comment period is open now until January 19th. 

Named the Shoreline III, the apartment building will replace eight single family homes with 360 homes and include affordable homes and retail space. The building will be built between 1st Ave and I-5 and stand south of the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church (SUUC) and Philippi Presbyterian Church.

It will be one block away from the planned pedestrian bridge across I-5 to the 148th Light Rail Station.

Logs from removed trees on the future site of the Shoreline III apartment building
Photo by Oliver Moffat

The plan calls for an 8-story apartment building with 360 units to house about 684 residents. According to the plan, 20% of the homes (72 total) will be affordable to people earning less than 70% of Shoreline’s median income. 

There will be roughly 3,000 square feet of retail space, 268 parking spaces, and a breezeway running north through the middle of the building. Renderings of the building are available on the developer’s website.

Previously, the block had eight single family homes - all of which will be demolished. 28 significant (large) trees have already been removed. 

According to the Landscape Plan and confirmed by the City Manager’s office, the developers do not need a permit to remove trees and are not required to replace the trees because the site is zoned MUR-70 and is not in a critical area. More details on Shoreline’s tree regulations are available on the city’s website.

Our region faces a housing affordability crisis with more than 53,000 people experiencing homelessness each year. According to the King County Council, to solve the housing crisis, Shoreline must build more than 13,000 new homes by 2044 - with more than two-thirds of those homes affordable to people making less than the region’s median income. 

To help address this demand, the city of Shoreline rezoned the neighborhoods near the 145th street light rail station to encourage high-density, affordable, transit-oriented housing.

The Evergreen Point Group’s rendering of the Shoreline III apartment complex.

The developer is the Evergreen Point Group, who previously built the Träd apartments in Shoreline’s North City neighborhood and are currently building the Line apartments on 145th Street and 1st Avenue also south of SUUC. 

Scheduled to open in 2024, the Line apartments will have 241 homes of which 20% (48 total) will be affordable to people earning less than 70% of Shoreline’s median income. The Line will include more than 1,900 square feet of ground floor retail space and a Woonerf (pedestrian friendly road) will run through the property.

The state environmental protection act (SEPA) requires projects such as the Shoreline III to seek public comments because of the size and scope of the development. The SEPA public comments allow neighbors to review plans and comment on concerns about the environmental impact of developments. More details on the project and information on how to comment is available on Shoreline’s website.


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Assisted Living building planned for Hillwood neighborhood

Monday, January 1, 2024

Land where new building will be sited. Also adjacent parcel #600, but not the four parcels fronting Richmond Beach Road (L-R) Shell station, shell parking, office building, Wells Fargo bank.

By Diane Hettrick

A real estate broker of my acquaintance had a constant refrain, "Who owns the dirt?" In other words, it doesn't matter what is built on the land or what it is being used for. What matter is who owns the land.

Three years ago, on December 2020 an entity called Richmond Beach Associates LLC, for $12.2 million became the legal owners of a large piece of property at the corner of Richmond Beach Road and 8th Ave NW in what is called 4 Corners, where four neighborhoods meet. The deal included a large adjoining parcel.

The land currently has parking, an abandoned bank building, and the so called "Shops at Richmond Beach." The busy and popular businesses on the site include the Santa Fe grill, Beach House Greetings, a nail salon, dry cleaners. QFC and the Swedish clinic are on the parcel.

It does not include the parcels fronting Richmond Beach Road with the Shell gas station, naturopathic and insurance offices, and Wells Fargo bank.  

The property owner has entered into a deal with Urbal Architecture to construct a six story assisted living facility on the site, currently called Acoya Richmond Beach.

Urbal has deep experience with assisted living facilities both locally and nationally. They have constructed Merrill Gardens senior living sites in Ballard, Renton, Tacoma, Auburn, Burien, Holden at Southcenter and other senior living buildings all over the U.S.

Currently they plan to demolish the bank to begin construction. Their current plan shows that they plan to demolish the west wing of the shopping mall but they have not applied for permits for that from the City of Shoreline.

The building will be a six-story 230-unit assisted living facility with one level of below grade parking (130 parking stalls total). Assisted living facilities are not required to have ground-level commercial space.

They have submitted their SEPA application, which is the City's environmental checklist. The public is invited to comment on environmental impacts based on the information contained in the SEPA.

According to the Senior Planner on the project, "The developer and property owner have not applied for the permits to make alterations or demolitions to the shopping center at this time, although the developer shows that portions of it will be removed as a part of their plans for the assisted living facility. 

"Based on the plans provided, it looks like the property owner and applicant intend for the dry cleaners to stay, but they wish to demolish or remove the commercial spaces west of there."

The public comment period ends January 2, 2024 at 5pm. Submit comments to ahalberg@shorelinewa.gov or deliver them to city hall Attn: Alicia Halberg, 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133


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Construction to begin on 235-unit affordable housing project at King County Metro Northgate site

Architect's drawing of Northgate Station affordable housing building

King County Executive Dow Constantine has announced the start of construction on a 235-unit affordable housing project at King County Metro’s Northgate property after financing and permits are finalized this month. 

The housing project is part of King County’s ongoing and successful transit-oriented development program. At Northgate Station, residents can easily access Sound Transit Link light rail 1 Line service and 21 local and regional bus routes operated by King County Metro, Community Transit, and Sound Transit.

A partnership between BRIDGE Housing Corporation, Community Roots Housing, and Walsh Construction will construct the six-story building on one acre of the property, which is under a development agreement and 75-year ground lease with BRIDGE Housing. 

King County’s Department of Community and Human Services contributed $30 million in county affordable housing funding. Construction is anticipated to be completed in Fall 2025 and Community Roots Housing will operate the facility when it opens.

“We’re making affordable housing at every level in King County,” said Executive Constantine. “Northgate is the region’s most popular transit hub and offers fast, frequent bus and train service connecting communities. Housing projects like this give people back time they would have spent in traffic - reducing pollution and ensuring a healthier future for everyone.”
More information here


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Shoreline City Council passes tenant protections

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

On December 11, 2023, the Shoreline City Council approved Ordinance No. 966, which establishes additional protections for Shoreline tenants, above those already provided under the Washington State Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (RLTA, RCW, 59.18).

Below is a summary of the adopted protections. 
  • It adds additional notice requirements for base rent increases. For base rent increases greater than three percent but less than 10%, landlords are required to provide 120-day notice. For base rent increases of 10% or greater, landlords must give at least 180 days notice.
  • All move in fees and security deposits cannot exceed a combined one month’s rent. Tenants have the right to pay these fees in installments. The number of installments depends upon the length of the lease.
  • Late fees cannot exceed 1.5% of the tenant’s monthly rent.
  • A tenant may propose, in writing, that the landlord change the due date for rent in the rental agreement to a different day of the month if the tenant’s primary source of income is a regular, monthly source of government assistance.
  • A landlord may request, but can’t require, a prospective tenant to provide a social security number or other type of tax identification number for screening purposes.
  • Fees 
    • All fees must be listed in the rental agreement.
    • A landlord may not charge a fee for a tenant’s access to common areas and/or a prorate share of utilities for such areas or for the performance of any landlord duty required by the RLTA.
    • A landlord may not charge a fee associated with the issuance of a notice to a tenant, even if the notice is required by state law, including but not limited to a fee for preparing and delivering a notice regarding late payment of rent, a notice to pay or vacate, or a notice of noncompliance with a rental agreement.
  • Tenants have the right to sue their landlord for violation of the code.
Ordinance 996 will add a new chapter to the Shoreline Municipal Code (Chapter 9.35 – Residential Tenant Protections).


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City of Shoreline proposes protections for renters

Thursday, December 7, 2023

The Shoreline City Council discussed proposed tenant protections on December 4th.
Photo by Oliver Moffat

The City of Shoreline is considering enacting stronger protections for renters. The proposed ordinance (no 996) would lengthen the notice period for rent increases, cap fees and security deposits, give tenants the right to payment plans, allow rent due date flexibility for tenets on government assistance, forbid landlords from requiring a social security number from applicants, and allow tenants to seek legal action in court.

At the December 4th Shoreline City Council meeting, over 20 people provided public comments and eleven written public comments were received. 

Some supporters of the measure commented that with the expiration of COVID era tenant protections, evictions across Washington state are spiking - contributing to homelessness. 

Critics of the proposed ordinance raised concerns that it would disproportionately harm small housing providers know as “mom-and-pop” landlords because it would increase cost and legal risks of owning a rental property. 

Supporters of the ordinance pointed to a recent case study from researchers at the University of Washington that found no evidence that Seattle’s strict tenant protection laws drove “mom-and-pop” landlords out of the rental market.

On December 11, the City Council will vote on whether to adopt Ordinance 996.

--Oliver Moffat

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City leaders join bus tour of affordable homeownership sites

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Community leaders gather outside the bus prior to the tour for a group photo. (Photo/Homestead)

Community leaders from the Cities of Lake Forest Park, Shoreline, Kenmore, and Bothell, along with staff from North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) recently joined with donors and stakeholders of Homestead Community Land Trust to learn more about permanently affordable homeownership on a tour of developments in Seattle and Tukwila.

The tour was in collaboration with Homestead’s partners in Lake Forest Park (Michael Troyer, Sally Yamasaki, and Donna Hawkey) and NUHSA who invited leaders from north urban cities to explore how to increase affordable homeownership opportunities in their communities.

The tour was a showcase of the different types of homes that can be developed in affordable housing programs including townhomes, cottage-style duplexes, and condominium flats in apartment-style buildings.

Homestead Director of Real Estate Development, Eric Pravitz, shares information about The Southard with attendees. (Photo/Homestead)

The group toured Homestead’s Village Gardens, a 16-home development in the Central District of Seattle. The tour also stopped at a future development site on church land in West Seattle, before arriving at The Southard, Homestead’s latest project under construction. 

The Southard is a development of 18 homes; the second of Homestead’s highly energy-efficient demonstration projects designed to reduce utility costs and climate impacts.

Homestead Community Land Trust is an affordable homeownership developer with 245 homes in trust in Seattle, Renton, and soon, in Tukwila. They have created over 300 first-time homebuyer opportunities for lower-income households for whom market-rate homeownership is too expensive. 

Homes in their program are subsidized so that they can be priced between $250,000 and $325,000, depending on size.

During the tour, Homestead’s CEO Kathleen Hosfeld explained that land identification is one of the ways community leaders can facilitate affordable housing projects. 

  • Village Gardens was built on surplus property made available through a competitive process by the City of Seattle. 
  • The West Seattle and Tukwila properties on the tour are developments on church land. The West Seattle project came about as a result of Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold’s outreach to affordable housing developers in support of the church that wanted to redevelop its property. 
 Many faith communities with land are selling or transferring land at low or no cost for affordable housing as part of their social justice or charitable commitments.

“The Housing Party Bus tour allowed us to see CLT housing first-hand and gave us an opportunity to have fun and build community with others who hope to work toward permanently affordable housing solutions,” according to Yamasaki.
Yamasaki continued, “As our Lake Forest Park CLT team has been seeing million-dollar houses replacing once affordable starter homes, it recognizes that it narrows a sector of our society who can afford to live here. Diversity makes our community rich. 
"The CLT model allows for our teachers, city workers, and others who are essential to our town to not only afford to live here, but to also begin the process of building equity in their home that renting does not.”

To learn more about Homestead CLT’s work on building a legacy of permanently affordable homeownership in King County, you can visit the organization’s website or follow them on Instagram socials@homesteadcommunitylandtrust


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Compass Housing: Pew Charitable Trust says that homelessness is a housing problem

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Two Worlds. Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

From Compass Housing Alliance

You've heard us say this a few times over the years, but the Pew Charitable Trust has just confirmed this with a new study just released in August.

The study shows how housing costs drive levels of homelessness and the cities with the higher costs of living have higher cases of homelessness.

"A new analysis of rent prices and homelessness in American cities demonstrates the strong connection between the two: homelessness is high in urban areas where rents are high, and homelessness rises when rents rise."

Read the full article here



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Landlord / Tenant Fire Safety

Saturday, August 26, 2023

Olympia – According to a Washington housing data report, there are over 3 million housing units in the state of Washington. Of those, more than 1 million are rentals. Renters make up 36% of the housing market in our state.

In 2022, Washington State reported over 8,000 fire incidents in residential properties. As a landlord or a renter, it is important to be familiar with the requirements of RCW 43.44.110, which speaks to smoke detection devices in dwelling units.

The State Fire Marshal's Office (SFMO) urges landlords and renters to be familiar with fire alarm requirements:
  • Rental units must have working smoke alarms.
  • Check with local fire or building departments for information about state laws and local ordinances on smoke alarm installation and maintenance.
  • Landlords must ensure smoke alarms are installed in the rental unit prior to the tenant occupying the space.
  • Renters must maintain the smoke alarms in operable condition, following the smoke alarm manufacturer’s specifications.
  • Ensure that smoke alarms are installed in every bedroom, outside of each separate sleeping area, and on every level of the home or unit. This includes any basements.
  • Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
  • Replace smoke alarms when they are 10 years old from manufacturing date.
  • Make sure rental agreements include the maintenance of smoke alarms.
For more information, contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 360-596-3929.


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Linden neighbors mourn loss of affordable living and big evergreens

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Demolition in progress for construction of a large apartment building
Photo by Corinne McKisson

By Diane Hettrick

Demolition has begun at 179th and Linden for a large apartment complex. The site held the low-income Garden Park Apartments.

Trees that were felled this week
Photo by Derek Blackwell

On the 17th of July, demolition of the site began, and this week the trees began to come down. Neighbors and Save Shoreline Trees held a vigil as the trees were felled.

The trees were felled this week
Photo by Corinne McKisson

When Shoreline revised its zoning codes, priority was given to concentrating development along Aurora and existing business corridors. Linden is one block west of Aurora.

Architect's drawing of the ModeraShoreline that will be constructed on the site

Neighbors are concerned about the loss of mature trees, the potential for heavy traffic on a narrow street, and the loss of affordable housing. See previous article about the ModeraShoreline.

A memorial page for the trees has been up since the plans for the site were made public.



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Shoreline's new cottage housing ordinance

Friday, June 16, 2023

One example of cottage housing

The Shoreline City Council passed a cottage housing ordinance which became effective earlier this month.

Here are some highlights:
  • Cottages are permitted in R-4, R-6, R-8 and R-12 zones
  • Cottages are eligible for density bonuses based on the level of green building and their proximity to transit
  • Cottages have a maximum height of 24 feet (two stories)
  • Cottages have a maximum size of 1,500 square feet
  • Cottages require one parking space per unit
  • Cottages must provide both private open space and common open space
You can read the entire ordinance which includes the cottage code online: Ordinance No. 984

The Seattle Times wrote an article about this action. Read it here.

Pam Cross was part of the Focus Group and shares her thoughts on the ordinance and the process:

This is how it’s supposed to work. The Shoreline City Council listened to and implemented the public input on Cottage Housing.

As I reported in SAN on September 30, 2022, part of public outreach included a September 2nd virtual meeting of the Cottage Housing Focus Group. I was a member of the Focus Group and was impressed by the comments of all members. Clearly everyone had given it a lot of thought and was familiar with the existing Cottage Housing in Shoreline.

There’s no guarantee that multiple developments of Cottage Housing will be built. There is never a guarantee that a proposed new idea will succeed. 
But let's start with something that reflects the wants and needs of the Shoreline residents as well as their elected officials.


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Governor signs housing bills

Monday, May 15, 2023

Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation to remove obstacles to housing construction and another bill to help overcome the historic inequities caused by racist real estate covenants.

On Monday, May 8, 2023 Gov. Jay Inslee signed a slate of housing-related bills clearing obstacles to housing construction and righting a historic wrong related to housing discrimination.

As the state’s population has swelled, its housing stock has not, and prices have soared. To keep pace with expected growth, the state needs to build another million housing units by 2040. Inslee began the 2023 session with a call to “go big” on housing, and lawmakers responded by delivering smart policy and historic investments.

One new law, frequently referred to as the “middle housing bill,” essentially up-zones single-family lots in some cities to accommodate up to four units

Another law allows for more accessory dwelling units. New laws also consolidate permitting and streamline the design review process. Together, they will accelerate housing construction and improve inventory over time.

Inslee also signed a bill to establish a covenant homeownership account to assist homebuyers still harmed by the lingering legacy of racist real estate covenants

More than 40,000 covenants in effect as recently as 1960 excluded generations of people of color from owning property in communities across the state. An effect is a stark deficit in homeownership by people of color compared to their white neighbors with similar incomes.

The governor also signed bills to prevent landlords from raiding damage deposits over routine maintenance, and to afford tenants more say in eviction proceedings. Next week, the governor will sign a final budget including more than $1 billion over the next biennium to address homelessness and affordable housing.


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Vision House luncheon raises almost $700,000 to fight homelessness

Friday, May 12, 2023


Pictured: John Camerer, Vision House Co-Founder; Melissa Gehrig, Executive Director; Ninevah Lowery, Jack and Jill Foundation; Geoff Tamman, Board President; Susan Camerer, Vision House Co-Founder and Presenting Sponsor – Camerer Real Estate, Windermere; Bob Goff, Author and Guest Speaker.

This past Monday, May 8, 2023 the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue had almost 700 guests eager and attentive to consider their legacy. 

The Vision House Luncheon featured speaker and New York Times bestselling author Bob Goff, who spoke on the joy of neighbors and community coming together to be a safety net - a safety net of care and support we all desperately need - especially local moms and kids at Vision House.

The goal of this event was to raise support for families experiencing homelessness in the greater Puget Sound area, and that is exactly what was done. Funds are still coming in, but so far almost $700,000 has been raised to help provide safety and healing for families.

Executive Director Melissa Gehrig shared about the continuum of care that Vision House provides for families.
“Families are in crisis and just getting them housed is not enough. We can’t just put someone in a house and expect them to be successful in keeping it.” 

Gehrig shared that the Vision House program includes case management, accountability, and time with licensed mental health counselors. This strategy has enabled Vision House to have a success rate historically of 90-92% in moving families to permanent housing.

Jacob's Well in Shoreline

Vision House is a nonprofit organization providing transitional housing, childcare and supportive services to families experiencing homelessness. Since its beginning in 1990, the faith-based organization has served more than 1,400 children, women and men experiencing homelessness, each receiving the support they need for achieving independence and self-sufficiency. 90% of participants who complete the program move into permanent housing. 

Headquartered in Renton, the agency is debt-free, owning and operating 46 units of housing and two childcare facilities in Renton and Shoreline (Jacob's Well); and two Diversion Centers in Renton and Burien – with a third planned for Shoreline.


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Virtual Open House on Middle Housing in Shoreline – May 24

One example of "middle housing"
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline
As part of the City of Shoreline’s update to its Comprehensive Plan, they are studying options to allow middle housing throughout the city.
 

The goal is to provide more housing choices in more locations for all our residents. 

We would like to invite you to join us for a virtual community open house on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 to discuss what middle housing is, and how it would impact the Shoreline community.

Shoreline Middle Housing Virtual Open House

Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Time: 5:30 – 7:00pm
Location: Zoom
Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87344972726

This is an opportunity for us to hear your thoughts, concerns, and questions regarding middle housing. Your perspectives and experiences are essential to creating housing solutions that work for everyone in our community.

If you are interested in joining, please register for the event. Registration is optional; however, registered participants will receive a meeting reminder and any follow-up materials shared by the project team. 

If you choose not to register, the meeting information will be added to the Shoreline Comprehensive Plan Update webpage closer to the day of the meeting. We will also post a recording of the meeting to the site following the event.
 
Recent Changes in State Law

Washington’s new middle housing law will allow more housing units per lot in most neighborhoods in most cities across the state. 

However, the law leaves it up to cities to determine what that housing will look like. 

We will need to update Shoreline’s development code to comply with the law by mid-2025. Because of these recent changes, we are focusing on the different forms of middle housing like duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes and what they might look like in Shoreline.


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Ion Town Center apartment community welcomes residents in June

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Ion Town Center Apartments on Midvale

Ion Town Center is a brand new apartment community located in Shoreline’s Town Center District on Midvale and 180th, and is now pre-leasing for move-ins in June.

This elevated apartment community offers a variety of floor plan styles including studios, traditional one bedrooms, one bedrooms with den, open one bedrooms, two bedrooms, and live/work layouts. Ion Town Center consists of 215 apartment homes, including 42 units that are part of the MFTE program.

Ion Town Center is just off Aurora, offering convenient access to Town and Country Market, Trader Joe’s and Costco. The community’s proximity to I-5 provides an easy commute by car, Rapid Ride E Line bus, or Light Rail scheduled to open next year. Shoreline Community College is just a few minutes away. The community neighbors the Interurban Trail taking you to Echo Lake, Lake Ballinger, and beyond.

Ion Town Center

The pet-friendly apartment homes at Ion Town Center offer exceptional living spaces – designed for those who want easy connectivity to Downtown Seattle but prefer the close-knit community feel and access to outdoor pursuits offered by Shoreline. Ranging from 419 to 1,142 square feet, there is a layout that will work for everyone. Each home is fitted with top-tier features, including sleek white countertops with custom tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, hardwood style plank flooring, air conditioning ports, slow close drawers, built in storage, and oversized windows.

Residents can take advantage of an enviable amenity package, including Sky Lounge with chef-inspired kitchen, Sunset Deck with cozy fire pits and seating, fully equipped Fit Zone fitness center open 24/7, Paws and Suds pet spa and grooming stations, LuxerOne package management system w/refrigeration options, EV charging stations, work from home co-working spaces, bike maintenance and parking/storage room, and more.

The Ion Town Center team is thrilled to welcome their first residents soon, and are looking forward to building connections in the neighboring community. If you would like to learn more about the apartment community or to reserve one of the first homes, please visit https://www.iontowncenter.com/.


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Housing in Shoreline - City of Shoreline looking for participants for facilitated small group discussions

Saturday, April 29, 2023

*IMPORTANT* If you have already registered for this workshop, please re-register! A technical issue prevented us from getting your contact information so we aren't able to reach you.

~~
The City of Shoreline is looking at ways to have more housing choices in more places in the coming years. 

"We'd love to learn about your priorities, needs, and concerns for housing in our community!"

They are looking for eight to twelve people to participate in a facilitated, small group discussion:

Thursday, May 4: Young adults between the ages of 18 and 36 who rent their housing and currently live or are interested in living in Shoreline.

Wednesday, May 9: People who work frontline jobs, such as teachers, food service works, laborers, childcare providers, etc., who live or work in Shoreline.

  • The sessions may happen virtually or in person, depending on the preference of the group.
  • Participants are eligible to receive a $75 gift card!
  • We are prioritizing space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and other people from historically marginalized communities. 
  • Registering does not guarantee a spot, and you may be waitlisted. https://bit.ly/Shoreline_FocusGroup.


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Learn about Community Land Trusts at NUHSA'a online Lunch and Learn

Thursday, April 27, 2023

North Urban Human Services Alliance will sponsor an online session about Community Land Trusts (CLT) as part of Affordable Housing Week on Friday, May 12, 2023 from 12:00 – 1:30pm


Nationally noted Community
Land Trust Advisor

Join us as we learn about CLTs as part of Affordable Housing Week!


Community Land Trusts (CLTs) build permanently affordable homes that build wealth for first time home buyers, including those who have been shut out of ownership due to historic discrimination and gentrification.

CLTs are private, 501c3 non-profit community organizations that work with communities to help preserve their culture/values while also supporting equity and deep investments in environmental sustainability.

Executive Director of Homestead
Community Land Trust
Speakers:

Kathleen Hosfeld, Executive Director of Homestead Community Land Trust and Erika Malone, National Community Land Trust Advisor

The 8th Annual Affordable Housing Week is a series of education and advocacy events highlighting the role affordable housing plays in stabilizing our communities. 

Each year, NUHSA partners with Housing Development Consortium and others to bring together elected officials, city/county staff, advocates and residents to create momentum for investments and policies to ensure affordable, thriving and equitable communities


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Letter to the Editor: Much-needed Affordable Housing

Thursday, March 23, 2023

To the Editor:

HB 1110, a bill to Increase middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing, has passed the State House of Representatives and is now being considered by the Senate.

It will override most local zoning/building codes, with the goal of providing "affordable housing."

However, no truly "affordable" housing is required by this bill.

The HUD 2021 median income for King County was $106,326. Using the formula in HB 1110, where housing costs (including utilities other than phone) should not exceed 30% of:

  • 80% of the median income for a homeowner, or $2,127 per month; or
  • 60% of the median income for a renter, or $1,595 per month. A renter earning a wage of $20 an hour for a 40-hour week, or $3,440 gross per month, is using 46% of that monthly income on housing. This is not affordable.

HB 1110 explains, "To unlock opportunity for Washingtonians it is necessary to lift bans on the development of modest home choices in cities near job centers, transit, and amenity-rich neighborhoods." 

It includes definitions for "Low-income household" and "Extremely low-income household," yet nowhere does it require that anything besides "affordable housing" be built, and the "affordable housing" is optional. 

There is no mandate for it. Will developers provide “affordable ownership” opportunities, or will our cities be filled with more townhouses selling at upwards of $600,000 and $700,000, and more? This bill needs to be amended for those of us seeking “affordable housing” and "affordable ownership".

You can read the entire bill here:
https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2023-24/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1110-S2.E.pdf?q=20230321132049

You can comment on HB 1110 here:
https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1110&Initiative=false&Year=2023

Jonelle Kemmerling
Shoreline, WA


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