Mayor Greg Nickels on Jan. 4 announced city support for four new affordable housing projects, according to a press release. The $6.7 million will help create affordable homeownership opportunities; a supportive housing development for chronically homeless people in North Seattle; and two mixed-income family housing developments in South Seattle. The family housing will primarily serve those making $23,000 to $39,000 a year.
“We need housing thats affordable for every income level,” said Nickels. “Stable housing is absolutely necessary to build strong families and healthy communities.”
The Mayor also announced $1.4 million from Seattle’s share of the King County document recording fees for Samaki Commons.
The four projects are:
• Samaki Commons — Inter*Im Community Development Association: 40 apartments, up to 4-bedrooms, to be located at 3908 S. Kenyon St. $1.75 million City funding; $1.4 million from document recording fees. Samaki Commons will be developed on property adjacent to New Holly’s Othello Place. Inter*Im Community Development Association is partnering with the International District Housing Alliance and Asian Counseling and Referral Services to provide culturally appropriate supportive services. The total cost of the project is approximately $11.8 million.
• Sea Mar Family Housing — Sea Mar Community Health Centers: 25 apartments with up to 40-bedrooms to be built at 1000 S. Henderson. $1.5 million City funding. The $7 million Sea Mar Family Housing will be constructed on the undeveloped portion of the Sea Mar Community Care Center campus in the South Park neighborhood. About half of the units are set aside for families making up to $39,000 annually (family of four) and the other half for families making up to $23,000 annually.
• Lake City Court — Low Income Housing Institute: 75 apartments to be built at 12730 33rd Ave. NE. $3 million City funding. Lake City Court in North Seattle will provide supportive services for chronically homeless individuals with some units designated for veterans. The $16.8 million project to be developed by the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) was awarded $320,000 capital from the Veterans Administration and services funding for 16 units.
• Homebuyer Assistance — HomeSight. Combined with other funding this $400,000 will be used to assist 20 first-time homebuyers in the city of Seattle. HomeSight also intends to use a portion of these funds to give assistance to homebuyers at Homesight’s new condominium project at Thirteenth Avenue and East Columbia Street.
