November 21, 2024
Bridging the gap: collaborative efforts to solve Washington’s affordable housing crisis
By NICOLE MILBURN
AHBL
|
Milburn |
In communities across Washington, the affordable housing crisis reached critical levels in 2020 and continues today. Rising interest rates have pushed most first-time buyers out of the market, and ongoing economic challenges have increased the need for affordable housing.
The gap between housing supply and resident needs continues to grow. According to the state Department of Commerce, Washington will need to add more than one million new homes in the next 20 years to meet the demand, with nearly half needing to be affordable. Despite zoning reforms, local administrative requirements related to permitting, design review and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) analysis remain complex and time-consuming, coupled with rising construction costs, making it difficult to meet this need.
COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Affordable housing providers are trying to tip the scale by forming unique partnerships across the state, including collaborations between public and private non-profits, as well as rental and for-sale partnerships. While rental housing is becoming more affordable, for-sale housing remains a key factor in building generational wealth, particularly for BIPOC communities who often face income barriers to home ownership.
AHBL’s partnerships with housing authorities, communities, and architects are contributing to progress in affordable housing development. Working with partners like SMR Architects, a leader in innovative affordable housing design, AHBL has helped fast-track several affordable housing projects across the state.
We spoke with Kate Smith, principal at SMR Architects, who emphasized the importance of community engagement and progressive solutions in meeting housing needs. As board president of the Housing Development Consortium of Seattle King County, Kate pushes for policy reform, increased funding opportunities and supporting the collective strength of the affordable housing community.
INCREASED RESOURCES AND FUNDING
In recent years, increased funding from city, county, state and federal sources has energized Washington’s affordable housing market. In 2023, Seattle renewed its housing levy at nearly $1 billion to reinvest in the community.
A first of its kind in the nation, the Covenant Home Ownership account began in Seattle and has expanded statewide, providing down-payment assistance to those historically discriminated against through redlining. Additionally, the Housing Trust Fund received a $400 million investment, aimed at funding numerous projects.
A recent middle housing bill also passed, providing over $1 billion for housing development. Other funding initiatives, such as the Veteran’s Housing Levy, have passed in recent years, creating local funding pipelines throughout Washington.
“Still there is a need for more progressive funding,” says Kate Smith. “We’re seeing permitting and political roadblocks, increased operating costs, high interest rates and rising insurance rates making a huge impact on affordable housing developers.”
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Two successful examples of AHBL’s affordable housing projects are the Housing Hilltop project in Tacoma and the Catholic Charities Housing Services Sunnyside development in Yakima.
Housing Hilltop exemplifies the efficiency of the design/build delivery system. This approach allows for highly collaborative design phases, better cost control, and maximizes project dollarscritical in affordable housing.
In partnership with Walsh Construction and SMR Architects ( read more about their work on the project here), AHBL provided landscape architectural services for this project. This forward-thinking development features two mixed-use buildings with 231 affordable units, two podium courtyards, and street trees.
AHBL also actively participated in charrettes and community meetings. Community concerns included fears of losing cultural identity, rising housing costs, and the affordability of retail spaces for small and BIPOC businesses. In response, the Housing Hilltop project offers 13,000 square feet of commercial retail space, a 10,000-square-foot performing arts and community gathering space, and housing policies designed to allow displaced Hilltop residents to return to the neighborhood.
“Affordable housing developers have really started to listen to what communities are looking for and not just focusing on what they think the need is,” Kate explained.
Earlier this year, AHBL’s civil engineering and landscape architecture teams worked with SMR Architects on an extensive community outreach process for Catholic Charities Housing Services Diocese of Yakima (CCHS)Sunnyside Housing Development. CCHS applied for a grant from the Citizens Institute on Rural Design (CIRD), in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council, which helps communities with populations of 50,000 or less convert their own ideas into reality.
To engage the community, we hosted a three-day public workshop, facilitating discussions on both rental and for-sale housing. Neighbors and community leaders were invited to meet with city and county officials to share ideas and help guide the future of affordable housing in the area. The first phase of the project is anticipated to begin in 2026.
MOVING FORWARD: BRIDGING THE GAP
Housing development involves many complex challenges, and additional state and local actions are still needed to ensure that new housing options become a reality across Washington’s communities.
In 2023, the state legislature adopted several housing-related bills, including House Bill 1110. To support its success, AHBL’s planning team is currently helping several cities integrate HB 1110’s middle housing provisions into local plans and regulations.
Through our civil and structural engineering, landscape architecture, land use planning, land surveying services and policy efforts, AHBL is committed to advancing Washington’s affordable housing goals. We are dedicated to working together to close the affordable housing gap in the coming years.
Nicole Milburn is a consultant specializing in content development for large and small firms and currently serves as a contract marketing coordinator with AHBL.
Other Stories: