Title
Explanation & Attachments
Report
Staff Contact:
Amy Buckler, Senior Planner, Community Planning & Development, (360) 570-5847, abuckler@ci.olympia.wa.us
Background:
We have just completed step 3 of the process to form Olympia's Downtown Strategy (attachment 11).
BRIEFING ON RESULTS FROM APRIL 28 BUSINESS & DEVELOPERS FORUM
To prepare for this briefing, members are asked to review:
* Attachment 1: Business & Developer Forum Report
REVIEW & DISCUSSION OF HOUSING STRATEGY FRAMEWORK
A housing strategy that sets the stage for a range of housing types for a range of incomes is an important part of Olympia's Downtown Strategy. Attachments 2 and 3 outline the components that make up a housing strategy. We will review and discuss demographic and economic information, along with preliminary goals, targets and tools for providing affordable and market rate housing to meet the needs of various income ranges within our community.
Housing affordability is a critical issue in Thurston County; an estimated 36% of Thurston County residents were housing cost burdened or homeless in 2012 (Data Snapshot, Thurston Thrives Housing Action Team, 2013.) See memo (attachment 4) for more information.
The downtown housing strategy is one component of a larger effort needed to increase affordable and safe housing in our community. The public, non-profit and private sectors all have a role, and come together as part of the Thurston Thrives Housing Action Team (a follow up to Sustainable Thurston). The City of Olympia has made efforts to support affordable housing in the past (attachment 5), and will continue to do so as part of the future steps outlined in the Strategy. Also, in a few months, the City will begin a public process to update codes in order to increase opportunity and feasibility for "missing middle housing (e.g., duplexes, cottage and tiny housing, ADU's) throughout Olympia.
Achieving community goals for an active, walkable and inclusive downtown to live, wor...
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