Mayor announces $14 million for housing working families and homeless

SEATTLE, TX – December 7, 2007 – Mayor Greg Nickels today announced $14 million for four new housing projects for working families and people who are homeless.

The money, funded primarily by the Seattle Housing Levy, will help build two housing projects for working families in Southeast Seattle near light rail stations. It will also support a development for low-income families in the Central Area and housing for chronically homeless individuals in Belltown.

“These projects will help our efforts to keep Seattle an affordable place to live for working families and to end homelessness in our community,” Nickels said. “In Southeast Seattle, the new homes will help maintain the wonderful diversity of this neighborhood and ensure that those who live there today will benefit from the changes taking place as light rail opens.”

Today’s announcement was held at the former Chubby & Tubby site at 3333 Rainier Ave. S, where with the help of city funding Southeast Effective Development (SEED) will convert the site into workforce housing, which will be affordable to families with incomes of up to $59,000.

“As these neighborhoods change it is important that we provide housing opportunities so that the diverse communities who have long lived here can remain in the neighborhoods they already call home,” said Earl Richardson, SEED executive director. “We couldn’t do this project without the city’s support.”

The four projects are:

• Chubby & Tubby Project – Southeast Effective Development (SEED) will create 67 units of workforce housing in the Rainier Valley at the site of the former Chubby & Tubby store, which is within walking distance of the McClellan light rail station. The project will have apartments ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms. Forty-four will serve households at 60 percent of median income (up to $46,000 for a family of four) and the remaining 23 units will serve households earning up to 80 percent of median (approximately $59,000 for a family of four).

• Douglas Apartments – Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) acquired this dilapidated rental property through eminent domain to address a public safety nuisance that was having a negative impact on the neighborhood. From January 2005 to March 2006 the Seattle Police were called to the property 312 times. The city’s investment in this development will have a positive impact on the neighboring school and residential properties. The rents will be affordable to a range of working families with incomes between approximately $17,000-$46,000. The Douglas Apartments are within walking distance of the Rainier Beach light rail station.

• Village Spirit Apartments – Catholic Community Services (CCS) will develop 50 units of affordable housing for working and formerly homeless families in the Central Area. The site currently serves as the parking lot for the CCS offices at the corner of 23rd and Yesler Avenue. Village Spirit will consist of three floors of housing over one floor of retail and program space. Underground parking for CCS offices and the housing will also be constructed. Supportive services will be provided by CCS on site and next door at the CCS offices. The remaining units will house working families.

• First & Cedar – Plymouth Housing Group (PHG) will develop the corner lot at First Avenue and Cedar St, constructing an 84-unit apartment building that will serve chronically homeless individuals. Half the units will be filled from PHG’s waiting list and the remaining units will be filled with homeless people who are high utilizers of medical services, the sobering center or the criminal justice system. First & Cedar will be staffed 24/7 and case management and a range of supportive services will be available on site.

The Office of Housing awards multifamily funds through the NOFA twice yearly – in the spring and the fall – supporting the development of affordable housing. The long-term, low-interest loans are highly competitive, with applications carefully reviewed for financial feasibility, affordability, organizational capacity and how they meet the City’s priorities. The affordability of the housing is regulated by the Office of Housing for a minimum of 50 years.