Daily Plan It Office of Planning & Community Development

The Daily Plan It Blog

A OPCD Blog

Mayor, Council Unveil Affordability and Growth Plan

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Mayor Tim Burgess and Councilmember Rob Johnson proposed a plan to implement Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) requirements on new development across Seattle that will meet the City’s goal of at least 6,000 new rent-restricted homes for low-income people over the next decade.

“Today we continue our push to address Seattle’s housing affordability crisis,” said Burgess. “With this plan, we will extend our requirement that new developments contribute to Seattle’s affordable housing supply. We’ve already implemented this requirement in the University District, downtown, and elsewhere. Now it’s time to bring this requirement to other high-opportunity neighborhoods so that we can hasten our progress in building a more inclusive and equitable city.”

Councilmember Rob Johnson (District 4, Northeast Seattle) said, “We all want to keep Seattle a welcoming, affordable city for families and people of all incomes, now and into the future. I’m excited to be one step closer on this key strategy which will create thousands of rent and income-restricted homes as we grow. Over the coming months, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and the community as we implement MHA citywide.”

The Council has already unanimously implemented affordable housing requirements on new development in six neighborhoods (University District, Downtown, South Lake Union, Chinatown-International District, along 23rd Ave in the Central Area, and Uptown). By extending MHA to Seattle’s other urban villages, as well as all other existing multifamily residential and commercial zones, new development will generate the rent- and income-restricted homes to meet the City’s 10-year goal.

[Read more…]

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Seattle’s recent housing construction focused in urban villages

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Over the last 18 months, Seattle has added more than 10,000 new homes, with 85 percent of all housing construction occurring inside the city’s urban centers and urban villages, according to recent permitting and construction data published in the Urban Center / Village Growth Report. Seattle’s urban villages are identified in the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan as the places to guide future population growth, a policy established in 1994. The Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) has found that recent housing growth is becoming even more focused in Seattle’s densest neighborhood centers.

“Seattle’s urban villages are becoming even more vibrant, with new housing, retail businesses and other resources that support high quality-of-life,” said OPCD Director Sam Assefa. “Because these neighborhoods are closer to job centers and have good access to frequent transit, more people have the option to avoid a long commute and reduce their dependence on cars. We continue to implement Mandatory Housing Affordability in more urban villages, which over the next decade will support at least 6000 new affordable homes in these neighborhoods for thousands of low-income households.”

In 1994, the City Council approved Seattle’s first Comprehensive Plan prepared under the state Growth Management Act, including the urban village strategy which directs housing growth to neighborhoods with more transit options. That strategy has been effective in locating more than 75 percent of new housing in urban villages and urban centers over the past two decades.

In recent months, an even greater share of new homes is being built in urban villages. Since January 2016, Seattle has added 10,123 net new housing units including apartments, townhouses, and single-family houses, with 8,554 of the new homes built inside urban villages and 1,569 new homes added outside urban villages during that period.

In the past 18 months, half of all new housing in Seattle has been built in six areas experiencing the most growth:

  • South Lake Union (1322 new homes constructed)
  • Belltown (942)
  • Pike/Pine Corridor (922)
  • Ballard (776)
  • University District Northwest (553)
  • Fremont (471)

 

Looking ahead to future development, buildings containing 21,349 homes have received permits but have not yet been completed. More than 82 percent of these homes will be located within urban villages close to jobs, commercial areas, and transit services. The areas with the most homes in the pipeline are:

  • South Lake Union (3670 units permitted)
  • Denny Triangle (1612)
  • Belltown (1197)
  • First Hill (1192)

 

Seattle’s new Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) program requires that all new multi-family residential and commercial development contribute to affordable housing, either by including rent-restricted homes or making a payment to the City’s fund to support affordable housing. To put MHA into effect, the City adds development capacity and expanded housing choices. MHA has already been implemented in Downtown, South Lake Union, the University District, Chinatown-International District, and along 23rd Ave in the Central Area. The City Council is currently considering zoning changes necessary to implement MHA in Uptown.

Seattle is the fastest growing large city in America, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The Washington Office of Financial Management reports that Seattle added nearly 27,000 net new residents between April 2016 and April 2017, more than the rest of King County combined.

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City extends comment period on evaluation of citywide Mandatory Housing Affordability

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SEATTLE (July 6, 2017) –Today the Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) extended the public comment period until August 7 on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that studies three alternatives for zoning changes needed to implement Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) in Seattle’s urban villages and other commercial and multifamily residential zones across the city.

“Due to a high volume of requests, both online and at a recent public hearing, we are extending the written comment period on this environmental study an additional 15 days,” said OPCD Director Sam Assefa. “While there is broad agreement on the need for more affordable housing across Seattle, these documents are lengthy and complex, and we want to honor these requests for more time for public review.”

The public can provide feedback on the environmental study using this online form or by e-mailing  MHA.EIS@Seattle.gov.

MHA helps ensure that as Seattle grows, development supports affordable housing for low-income families and individuals by either building rent-restricted homes on-site or making a payment to the Seattle Office of Housing fund for affordable housing. To implement MHA, the City would grant additional development capacity to allow for construction of more market-rate housing and commercial space.

The City Council has already enacted MHA in Downtown, South Lake Union, and the University District. This study evaluates implementing MHA in 27 other urban villages throughout the city.

MHA was a key recommendation of the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) Advisory Committee.

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City Evaluates Zoning Changes for Mandatory Housing Affordability

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Today the Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that studies three alternatives for zoning changes needed to implement Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) in Seattle’s urban villages and other commercial and multifamily residential zones across the city.

MHA helps ensure that as Seattle grows, development supports affordable housing for low-income families and individuals by either building rent-restricted homes on-site or making a payment to the Seattle Office of Housing. To implement MHA, the City would grant additional development capacity to allow for construction of more market-rate housing and commercial space.

“Implementing MHA is one of many actions the City is proposing to address housing affordability,” said Sam Assefa, director of OPCD. “We look forward to community input on the DEIS, especially on our analysis of impacts resulting from MHA implementation. Your feedback will help us finalize our recommendation on how to guide growth with additional affordable housing, while working to reduce displacement risks as Seattle grows.”

Seattle is currently the fastest growing large city in the United States. The average rent for a Seattle two-bedroom, one-bath apartment is $1,863. The average rent in Seattle has increased 55 percent since 2010. Twenty percent of Seattle renters now spend more than half their income on housing.

The DEIS issued today examines the potential effects of zoning changes that will implement MHA in multifamily and commercial zones in Seattle, areas currently zoned Single Family Residential in existing urban villages, and in urban village expansion areas identified in the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan.

The three alternatives considered in the DEIS include:

  1. “No Action” that does not implement MHA requirements on new development, but maintains current zoning and building heights as Seattle grows.
  2. Changing zoning to guide additional housing and job growth to urban villages in a similar pattern as the Seattle 2035 Comprehensive Plan, but without specifically considering displacement risk or access to opportunity.
  3. Continuing the urban village strategy, but varying zoning changes and development capacity based on each urban village’s relative level of displacement risk and access to opportunity, as identified in the Seattle 2035 Growth and Equity Analysis.

Both action alternatives would generate at least 5500 new affordable homes from development in the study area over 20 years. The No Action alternative, however, would generate only about 200 additional affordable homes in the study area through the City’s existing Incentive Zoning program. The Draft EIS identifies environmental impacts and mitigation measures for each alternative.

You can learn more and provide your feedback on the Draft EIS through July 23 at http://tinyurl.com/HALA-MHA-EIS.

OPCD will host an open house and public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on June 29 in the Bertha Knight Landes Room at Seattle City Hall. The public will have an opportunity to learn more about the alternatives, ask questions and provide public comment.

The City’s Final EIS and a preferred alternative will be developed based on community comments received to date and input on the three alternatives in the DEIS. OPCD expects to complete the Final EIS of the preferred alternative in September before transmitting a proposal to the Seattle City Council for consideration.

MHA was a key recommendation of the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) Advisory Committee. In 2015 and 2016, Mayor Ed Murray proposed the ordinances that established the framework for MHA, which the City Council adopted unanimously.

The City Council has already implemented MHA in the U District, Downtown, and South Lake Union. The Council is currently considering MHA legislation for the Chinatown-International District and three key intersections along 23rd Ave in the Central Area. Legislation to implement MHA in Uptown will be considered separately.

OPCD, the Department of Neighborhoods, and the Office of Housing have held more than 165 public meetings, open houses and group discussions on implementing MHA throughout Seattle’s urban villages. From February 2016 to October 2016, community focus groups, HALA open houses, online surveys, and neighborhood pop-ups worked to inform principles to help guide the implementation of MHA. Draft maps for implementing MHA in Seattle’s urban villages have been the focus of open houses and community feedback since October 2016.

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Mayor Murray Unveils Affordable Housing Proposal for Chinatown-International District

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SEATTLE (April 14, 2017) – Mayor Ed Murray has sent legislation to City Council that will require new development in the Chinatown-International District to contribute to affordable housing, producing at least 150 new affordable homes over the next decade. The zoning change will implement the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda’s (HALA) Mandatory Housing Affordably (MHA) requirements.

Mayor Murray signs legislation to implement afforable housing requirements in the Chinatown-International District.

“Growth has brought thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in investments to Seattle,” said Mayor Murray. “But while we are the envy of many cities, we need to ensure this growth doesn’t push out the very communities that define our character. The Chinatown-International District is one these defining communities, where you can find dozens of languages, cultural amenities, transit, markets, and history all on the same street corner. By working with the community, and communities across the city, we are requiring developers to build or fund affordable housing for the first time, and helping to keep our neighborhoods places where anyone can live. Affordability is key to ensure that the Chinatown-International District remains the cultural landmark it is today and for generations to come.”

“The Yesler Community Collaborative is pleased to support the implementation of Mandatory Housing Affordability in the Chinatown-International District, Little Saigon and the Central Area,” said Doris Koo, a community leader and executive director of the Yesler Community Collaborative. “This step comes after the City’s responsiveness to our request that MHA requirements reflect the high risk of displacement our neighborhoods are experiencing. We urge Council to pass the legislation swiftly in support of inclusive developments in our communities.”

[Read more…]

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City Council Approves Mandatory Housing Affordability for Downtown and South Lake Union

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On Monday, the Seattle City Council approved legislation to implement Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) in Downtown and South Lake Union. The new ordinance requires that new commercial or residential development in Seattle’s downtown urban centers contribute to affordable housing in exchange for increased development capacity. It is estimated that the MHA requirements for Downtown and South Lake Union would produce over 2,100 new affordable housing units over 10 years, more than one-third of all affordable housing produced by MHA citywide.

More information on the new ordinance is available here. This legislation is a key piece of the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA).

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Opinion: Allowing taller buildings downtown will relieve some of Seattle’s high housing costs

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Jon Scholes, CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association. Op-Ed originally published in the Puget Sound Business Journal.

Last month, the Downtown Seattle Association hosted our annual State of Downtown economic forum to review the state of our economy and Seattle’s fastest growing neighborhood.

It’s no secret. People and jobs are flocking here in record numbers – and developers are responding.

In 2016, $4.4 billion of commercial and residential construction was underway in our center city and 20,000 new jobs were added in just a single year. This record investment, along with associated taxes and fees, protects our region’s natural areas and funds important public services and infrastructure crucial to keeping Seattle livable and welcoming.

[Read more…]

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Downtown and South Lake Union Contribution to Housing Affordability

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The Seattle City Council is working on legislation to implement Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) in Downtown and South Lake Union. The proposed ordinance would implement a requirement that new commercial or residential development contribute to affordable housing in exchange for increased development capacity. It is estimated that the MHA requirements for Downtown and South Lake Union would produce 2,100 new affordable housing units over 10 years.

The ordinance and a director’s report summarizing the final proposal are available here under the tab for Implementation in Downtown and South Lake Union. (The Chinatown/International District neighborhood will be addressed through separate legislation.) This legislation is a key piece of the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA).

Meeting schedules, agendas, and other Council documents are available at the PLUZ committee website.

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Mayor Murray Signs U District Rezone Legislation

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Earlier this month, Mayor Ed Murray signed landmark legislation focusing growth and affordable housing in the University District. The mayor was joined by City Councilmembers, neighborhood advocates, and local business owners to celebrate the more than five years of community-driven conversation to help shape growth and public investments in the U District. The legislation was a key recommendation of the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda.

The ordinance will focus growth in the core of the neighborhood, near the UW Campus and the new light rail station which opens in 2021. This will put more homes and jobs within a short walk from frequent transit, revitalize the business district, and provide thousands more homes for our growing city. The City and neighborhood have worked together to create a shared vision – new and expanded parks, pedestrian safety improvements, support for the local business district, and more affordable housing. By directing growth to the core of the U District Urban Center, it reduces impacts to surrounding neighborhoods.

For the first time, Seattle is implementing Mandatory Housing Affordability. All new development in the U District will contribute to affordable housing – either by providing it on-site, or by making a payment to the Seattle Office of Housing. Over the next 20 years, the U District will generate between 600-900 new affordable homes for lower-income individuals and families. And the ordinance also includes other public benefits: historic preservation, childcare, public open space, and street improvements, as well as incentives for providing schools, performing arts spaces, and room for social service organizations.

Now the City and community will begin to create new neighborhood design guidelines to ensure that as the U District changes, the buildings and open spaces create a sense of place that reflects what residents love about the neighborhood. The first meeting will be held at tonight, 5 p.m. at the U Heights Center.

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City Council: Understanding the University District Rezone

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Understanding the University District Rezone

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