Housing Developments: A civic Rorschach test

Ft. Lawton public hearing tomorrow, 1/9

The Stranger calls it a “civic Rorschach test.” Fenced-off, vacant, surplus public land in Magnolia could become the site of over 200 affordable homes, but only with support from Seattle neighbors. The Seattle Office of Housing is accepting public comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement and an open house is scheduled for Tuesday, January 9th. Affordable housing advocates, are you ready? Submit a comment and RSVP here. Arrive early if you’d like to speak. We’ve got stickers and snacks to go around!

Other Developments…

  • HDC Members: Register now for a Racial Equity Toolkit Workshops this Friday, Jan 12th! Learn why the racial equity lens is critical to your work, commit to action steps identified in the toolkit, and more. Join us in-person or virtually for one of two sessions offered.

  • A Monday of Olympic proportions: the Washington State legislature convenes today to begin a 60-day session. A top priority for Democrats and Republicans is passing a Capital budget and, hopefully, investing in the Housing Trust Fund. (Hint: Give them a nudge!)

  • King County seeks your input on how to implement the Vets, Seniors, and Human Services Levy! Attend a feedback session in Bothell, Auburn, Issaquah, or Seattle. Details and registration here.

  • Parking lot of ideas: The PLUZ committee of the Seattle City Council is reviewing a suite of parking reforms that could impact how we build affordable homes. 

  • Home prices are predicted to drop under the new tax law, but that isn’t necessarily good news in high-cost locales like King County. Curbed looks at what will happen in our market and others here.

  • A new shelter opens this month for families experiencing homelessness in Federal Way.

  • Good news on the Eastside: The Sophia Way is planning a permanent shelter for women and a local safe parking program got a pretty cool upgrade for their four-legged residents. And then there’s this story… I’m not crying, you’re crying.

  • BREAKING: Rising Rents Drive Homelessness according to research from Zillow, which correctly predicted the results of 2017 Point-in-Time counts of people experiencing homelessness. Speaking of point-in-time counts…

  • Count Us In, All Home’s annual census of people experiencing homelessness, is now accepting volunteers. The count will take place in the early morning hours of Friday, January 26th. 

What did we miss? Email us with suggestions.
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