Site selected for low-barrier housing project in Everett

EVERETT — A site has been selected for a planned housing project for chronically homeless people in Everett.

The proposed location is a 21.5 acre parcel off Evergreen Way in the Glacier View neighborhood.

The land, with an official address of 6107 Berkshire Drive, is also the site of the Everett Fire Department’s training center and the city’s Reservoir No. 3.

“It’s right now the best location we’ve been able to find,” said deputy city attorney David Hall, who has been leading the process.

The city has put out a call for potential bidders to develop the project, which is envisioned as a 60-70 unit building with office space for social service agencies and a front desk staffed around the clock, seven days a week.

The hope is that there will be enough interest from developers that a bid could be submitted to the city by early June.

The project is estimated to cost up to $14 million, of which the city has secured about $3 million.

The city’s portion comes from a $1 million grant from Snohomish County and an expected $2 million from a legislative appropriation. The developers’ proposals also have to identify funding sources for the remainder of the cost, Hall said.

Mayor Ray Stephanson’s administration decided to build low-barrier housing as part of its Safe Streets Plan.

The project has adopted the housing-first model, meaning that those individuals living there will not be required to be sober or otherwise in some form of treatment in order to maintain a roof over their heads.

The intent is to get people into housing, and then provide case management on-site as the residents need or want it.

The planned housing facility will only provide services for the residents, Hall said, not a drop-in services center.

“There’s not going to be a stream of people going to the building,” Hall said.

Another element of the housing plan has been to put 20 people into units at scattered sites around the city. Originally, the goal was to have that many in housing by the end of June.

The city launched an incentive program with the YWCA to provide local landlords with incentives to offer units to people on the city’s CHART list of priority candidates.

The people on the list account for a disproportionate use of resources, such as police, jail and emergency services.

Finding homes for those people has been a slow process, however. So far, only four people have been placed into those units, city prosecutor Hil Kaman said.

Another three people have been identified as candidates for the program once units have been secured. For the time being, those people are either residing in treatment facilities or with family members.

“It’s very challenging in the current rental market,” Kaman said.

The vacancy rate is about 2 percent, so even with secured rent and city-backed remediation funds, it’s tough finding landlords willing to participate.

“What this really highlights is the need for a capital facility for this population,” Kaman said.

The city is accepting developer qualifications only through the end of the month, after which it will solicit formal bids from those who meet the minimum requirements.

The city’s tight schedule is being done to allow potential developers to apply for the current round of federal Section 8 housing vouchers by a June 14 deadline, Hall said.

Design of the planned housing facility will be largely up to the developer, provided it meets the needs of the housing program and doesn’t interfere with firefighter training or reservoir operations.

“The process will allow a lot of public input into the design of the facility,” Hall said.

If everything falls into place, construction could start in late spring of 2017, he said.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.