No Plan for Affordable Housing

The City Council has repeatedly said that Sammamish is required to have affordable housing. True. They have also repeatedly said that a 4000 unit Town Center is required to provide affordable housing. Not true.

Sammamish has a Growth Management Act requirement to plan for, accommodate and enable affordable housing, but not just any affordable housing.

Sammamish has been allocated a target of 1549 units of Extremely Low Income Housing. The Draft Town Center Plan and Draft Code Amendment provide nothing for this housing that is not already in the Comprehensive Plan and current Municipal Code.

Who qualifies for Extremely Low Income Housing? This category could include people making less than minimum wage, some part time workers and people with only government benefit income. Eligible income is less than $33,000 for one person. Household income can be approximately $4000 higher per person for larger households. Most of the potential tenants will need support services for disabilities, substance abuse, and other medical and social issues.

The maximum allowed rent that can be charged in King County for a one bedroom in this category is $900. This is far below the $2300 for a market rate rental in Sammamish.

It just doesn’t work to have a few of these units in a market rate building. There are no examples on the Eastside, and probably none in King County. You need a dedicated building. Bellevue has a recent successful local example. Redmond is constructing a similar building.

A 100 unit building will cost about $40 million. There is no way that the city can give a developer enough incentive to build it “for free”. The cost will have to be raised from a combination of government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and city funds.

There is no connection between a 4000 unit Town Center and providing Extremely Low Income Housing. To use it as an excuse for inaction is a disservice to these people in need.

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