affordable housing

providing safer and more affordable housing options. Renters in Wenatchee, WA may soon have some relief with a new $3 million award from the Department of Commerce to plan for increasing middle housing options

The city has been awarding an eight-year tax exemption for all new housing construction for about a decade in an effort to offset a chronic housing shortage.

The council held a lengthy debate before deciding that Eider Properties could be released from its commitment to build 84 units as affordable housing.

A bill in the Washington House is proposing the creation of a new property tax category of 4% on property valued at over $5 million. Proponents of House Bill 1628 (HB 1628) say wealthy people who sell property valued at over $5 million can afford to pay the additional tax rate...

The Commerce Dept. figures indicate adding at 17,000 new homes by 2044 at market-rates will not be enough to meet the local demands in Chelan and Douglas Counties. The state projects between 40 and 55 percent of the new homes that are added will need to be affordably priced for people earning under 80 percent of the area’s median income.

The Mayor said concerns about single family R-1 neighborhoods being drastically altered with new duplexes replacing single family homes or an influx of ADU's would be a matter addressed through code compliance.

In Wenatchee, zoning already exists in many residential areas to permit a duplex or a four-plex behind the house if there's enough room. Design standards require it to look like the neighborhood and fit in with the houses around it.

Research has shown that East Wenatchee does not meet the public need for desirable, affordable and convenient multi-family options.

12th District Rep. Keith Goehner is one of the cosponsors of this bill.

Last night, city council members approved a letter of intent to provide those funds towards the purchase of the apartments.