SPOKANE, Wash. – Mayor Lisa Brown has announced four major proposals aimed at addressing Spokane’s affordable housing crisis. These plans are part of a broader effort to create more housing options and ensure stability for residents.
Senator, Marcus Riccelli, emphasized the importance of tackling this issue, stating, “The lack of affordable housing is one of our biggest challenges facing Spokane and our state. We know that. This state legislation combined with the city ordinance will build more homes and create more stability for more people.”
The city aims to create over 22,000 new housing units by 2046. Mayor Brown acknowledged the ambitious nature of this goal but assured it is achievable.
“It’s ambitious—but it’s an attainable goal,” she said.
One of the key components of the plan is to provide more flexibility in awarding funds.
Mayor Brown explained, “We are also creating more flexibility in how the funds can be awarded—both to construct the housing and to provide the services that help for actually maintaining that housing for people.”
The city is also focusing on fixing systems, beginning with an overhaul of Spokane’s building code to remove barriers. This includes assessing and updating the unified development code.
“We want the interests that care about and benefit from housing to be part of that process,” Mayor Brown stated.
To expedite housing projects, developers will be allowed to delay paying permit fees.
“Certain affordable housing projects could defer up to $150,000 in building and street permit fees to be paid at a later date,” CEO of Habitat for Humanity, Michelle Girardot, said.
Additionally, utility hookup fees for affordable projects will be waived, thanks to new state legislation. Officials highlighted the potential impact of these changes, noting, “The GFC’s would have put another $16,000 on top of these homes… this is going to be a transformational tool that we can use here locally.”
The ultimate goal is to make it easier for Spokane residents to find a place to live, addressing one of the area’s most pressing challenges.