February Housing News
Seattle continues to battle with housing affordability and availability this month. Citizens voted earlier this month on Seattle's up zoning measure, which could "provide at least 6,000 new rent and income-restricted homes for low-income residents," while mayor Durkan signed an executive order which looked to increase housing affordability and address residential displacement. Read more below:
Seattle has a plan to keep low-income resident in their neighborhoods
Longtime residents, fear Seattle’s ongoing boom, coupled with the Mandatory Housing Affordability program’s upzones, will push out Chinatown-International District’s diverse Asian community.
Surrounded by community advocates at Hirabayashi Place in Chinatown-International District on Wednesday, Mayor Durkan signed an executive order putting in motion a broad package of ideas, from funding the Equitable Development Initiative to collecting data on residential and commercial displacement from the city to lobbying Olympia for a larger housing trust fund. Much of the order extends or tweaks existing programs and ideas.
But at its heart is something new: the Community Preference Policy, which gives residents of certain low-income neighborhoods a greater chance to live in city-funded affordable housing that’s built in their community.
The Community Preference Policy would apply to city-funded affordable housing developments being built in neighborhoods with residents at a high risk of displacement, which typically means lower-income communities and communities of color. The policy would set aside a portion of the units in the new development for residents living in the neighborhood in which it is being built, and possibly even for former residents of the neighborhood already displaced by growth.
Heated debate at final hearing for Seattle's up zoning measure
The up zoning measure would enact requirements for building affordable housing and taller residence buildings in select neighborhoods throughout Seattle. The goal: To provide at least 6,000 new rent and income-restricted homes for low-income residents.
Additionally, it would levy substantial fines on developers who don’t dedicate between 5 and 11 percent of projects to low-income housing. Concerns have been expressed, though, that developers would simply choose to absorb the fines and not fulfill the affordable housing requirement.
Oregon set to become first state with mandatory rent controls
Oregon is poised to become the first state to impose mandatory rent controls, with a measure establishing tenant protections moving swiftly through the Legislature.
Oregon's measure prohibits landlords from terminating month-to-month leases without cause after 12 months of occupancy and limits rent hikes to once per year. Those increases are limited to 7 percent above the annual change in the consumer price index.
Landlords can terminate tenancies only with 90 days' written notice and payment of one month's rent, with exemptions in some cases. A landlord can refuse to renew a fixed-term lease if the tenant receives three lease violation warnings within 12 months and the landlord gives 90 days' notice.
Temporary Housing
Olympia looks to close down an unsanctioned encampment east of downtown due to safety concerns. Read more below:
Olympia plans to clear downtown homeless camp
The Olympian reports the city posted notices Wednesday at the unsanctioned camp saying it would be cleared due to "ongoing health and safety concerns."