Skip to main content

Senior Citizens and the Sammamish Town Center Vision

Will our Town Center be a vibrant place for seniors--with “affordable housing,” other diverse housing options, walkability, accessible transit, and convenient shopping?

As a Sammamish senior citizen, I hope so, but questions keep popping up.

Senior citizen facilities—yes, but affordable?

Merrill Gardens and Aegis are expected in the Town Center. But how many senior citizens would call these facilities “affordable?” And not all seniors need or want these types of facilities.

“Affordable Housing”—how will seniors qualify?

“Affordable housing” is the term for subsidized housing for those with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income. Our Town Center will have some affordable housing town homes and apartments. Many seniors who sell their homes are likely to have home equity income that could disqualify them from affordable housing. Those with less income might qualify, but will they want to live in apartment buildings with younger singles and young families? Maybe they would prefer to live in a senior citizen affordable housing development, which some communities offer. Such a building is not in the Town Center plan. You can find information about qualifying for affordable housing here, https://www.archhousing.org/.

Market rate housing--will seniors want to buy?

Several residents have suggested that market prices for the town homes now being built in Town Center will be $1M to $1.5M. Will seniors thinking of downsizing want to purchase a town home at a $1M plus market rate? For many, the economics just don’t add up. They point out the high market prices, “We’d like to sell, but where would we go? Everything is too expensive.” In addition, longtime homeowners with significant equity can face steep capital gains taxes upon selling. These economics prompt many seniors to stay put and age in their family homes. As for smaller homes at market prices seniors can afford, the Town Center plan is for mixed-use development, and currently that means apartments, town homes and retail. We are not likely to see small homes, such as the cottage housing that was part of previous Town Center visions. Some seniors might downsize to rental apartments at market rates, but developers face unfavorable economic conditions for apartment construction. How many apartments and how suitable they will be for seniors in the Town Center are unknown factors.

Walkability and transit—do seniors like hills?

Walkability sounds wonderful, but is it practical for seniors? Walking up those steps to City Hall, the library or the YMCA isn’t easy. Will seniors walk up and down the hill to get to 228th to pick up public transit? Even Sound Transit tells us that it won’t drive buses up and down that hill. Metro Flex and Metro Access might provide some transit for longer trips.

Retail—will seniors spend enough to support Town Center retail?

Financial advisors point out that seniors spend proportionally most of their money on healthcare and housing. Seniors even eat out less than those younger than 65. Sammamish can barely support the retail and restaurants that we have.

Will the Town Center attract businesses appealing to seniors, and will seniors support those businesses?

As a senior citizen, I would like to embrace the bright vision for seniors in the Town Center promoted by so many Council members and candidates. But that vision collides with economic reality—and perhaps with the way people naturally make choices as they age. Let’s continue to question that vision and adjust it.

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 7, 2025 at 4:27 AM

    The public in sammamish needs to be warned that these new housing will also bring crime, pollution and dangerous driving to the area. Sammamish will cease to be a safe place to raise families. The housing will never be affordable because the state of Washington will continue to raise taxes and other fees. If people doubt what I am saying just look at state of California. Did I mention future homeless encampments?

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousOctober 7, 2025 at 4:29 AM

    Your posters need to reflect that. 4000 new housing = more traffic and more crime will you be ready??

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Join the discussion, but anonymous trolling is not allowed. Feel free to disagree, but be polite. Name-calling, sarcasm, condescension, and aggression will result in your comment being removed.

Popular posts from this blog

A Former Sammamish Mayor's Thoughts

Read what the former Mayor of Sammamish, Tom Odell, wrote about the changes the current City Council is considering and how far they've come since the early plans in 2007 and 2010. Rolled up Newspaper by 2happy.  Do you realize how different the current considerations are from the original concepts? Republished here with permission. Opinion: let the residents vote on doubling the Town Center size By Tom Odell Former Mayor and City Council Member The 2025 Sammamish City Council is considering proposed changes to the Sammamish Town Center project that was originally approved by the 2010 City Council.   I doubt if very many people got the notice regarding the changes as there is only a requirement that it be distributed to the affected and immediate “neighborhood”.  The current definition of the required notice area is very geographically limited.  Others living outside must request to be notified (I did).  It is likely that very few Sammamish residents have d...
2 comments
Read more

📣 The Votes Are In on the Sammamish Town Center Plan — What’s Next?

  The Votes Are In on the Sammamish Town Center Plan City Council Passes Action Alternative (4,000 units, 85’ buildings) Before the final vote was accepted, Councilmember Kent Treen presented three alternative motions: 1. A hybrid option that would keep the 2,000-unit cap. Councilmember Lam seconded the motion. After discussion, the Council voted 6–1 against approving it. 2. Two additional alternatives were also introduced by Councilmember Treen but did not receive a second and therefore did not move forward. At the July 15, 2025 Sammamish City Council meeting, the Council voted on the future of the Town Center. They were asked to select one of three proposed alternatives: Proposed Options: 1. No Action Alternative Keeps the current cap of 2,000 housing units. Likely results in mostly townhomes and fewer community amenities such as retail, restaurants, and civic spaces. 2. Action Alternative Allows up to 4,000 units with a mix of apartments and condos, plus retail, restaurant, and...
5 comments
Read more

Town Center Expansion: A Fiscal Sustainability Crisis for Sammamish

The Red Ink Flows... Our beautiful City of Sammamish faces a serious financial challenge affecting every resident: *   2025 Budget Gap: $10,319,000 deficit ($57,287,000 in revenues vs. $67,606,000 in expenses) *   2030 Projected Overspending: $20,747,000 *   2030 Projected Funding Balance Deficit: $24,099,000 This persistent red ink has already led to new taxes for residents: *   A 6% utility tax has been implemented. *   A potential Metropolitan Park District tax is being considered to fund park expenses. Will Town Center Costs Exceed Revenues? The current Town Center plan (2008 Plan as Amended in 2020) allows for 2,000 housing units. The plan includes some information about the costs City taxpayers will bear: Infrastructure Cost-Sharing With Developers *The Town Center plan states infrastructure will be "funded jointly" between the City, service providers, and private developers, but the exact cost distribution remains unclear: *"Infra...
Post a Comment
Read more