Bremerton, King County, Seattle to bring affordable housing in new mixed-income communities

WASHINGTON – September 23, 2008 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston today awarded $50.5 million to three public housing authorities in Washington State to revitalize the public housing in Bremerton, King County and Seattle. HUD’s grants will produce or rehabilitate 765 units of public and affordable housing and another 611 units of market-rate housing in the State.

“Housing authorities in the state of Washington have already demonstrated their ability to revitalize neighborhoods and transform lives,” said Preston. “Look at what’s become of the Holly Park public housing development in Seattle. Today, NewHolly is a thriving community that includes housing for low-income families and homeowners. I’m proud that HUD can be a partner in breathing new life into these neighborhoods.”

“These grants mean that more Washington state residents will be able to move out of run-down public housing and move into safe, diverse, and vibrant neighborhoods,” said U.S. Senator Patty Murray. “It will also provide a helping hand for residents who have been priced out of their local housing market, and will allow families to live, work, and raise their children in the same neighborhood. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees HUD, I have been proud to work with them in continue to fund these critical grants.”

“The award of these three grants is recognition of Washington State’s commitment to, and success in, updating and revitalizing public housing that is old, rundown and unsafe,” said U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell. “Bremerton, King County, and Seattle can put these critical funds to good use and provide our vulnerable neighbors with a modern, affordable and safe place to call home.”

The Bremerton Housing Authority will receive $20 million to support the revitalization of the Westpark public housing development. The housing authority plans to rehabilitate 179 public housing units; construct 259 affordable rental units; and 30 affordable homeownership units. In addition, the housing authority plans to construct 487 market rate homes and a community center.

The King County Housing Authority will receive $20 million to support the revitalization of the Park Lake Homes II public housing development. The housing authority plans to construct 165 public housing units; 24 affordable rental housing; and 17 affordable homeownership units. Plans also include 112 market rate homes and a community center. This is the second HOPE VI Revitalization grant the King County Housing Authority has received.

The Seattle Housing Authority will receive $10,486,839 million to support the revitalization of the Lake City public housing development. The housing authority plans to construct 51 public housing rental units; 35 affordable rental units; five affordable homeownership units; and 12 market rate homes. The housing authority will also build a community center. Including this grant, the Seattle Housing Authority has received five HOPE VI Revitalization grants.

These housing authorities were selected among 24 public housing authorities across the country. The housing authorities will pay relocation and re-occupancy costs for residents as needed.

Affected residents can relocate to other public housing or receive a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) to subsidize their rent in privately owned housing. Relocated residents are given the opportunity to move back to the newly constructed units. Alternatively, if residents choose not to return to public housing, they may keep their voucher. The HOPE VI grant will also give relocated families access to support services such as career training and employment programs for adults; educational programs for children and youth; and homeownership counseling programs.

The funding announced today comes from HUD’s HOPE VI Revitalization Program that awards funding to public housing authorities and encourages public, private partnerships to transform severely distressed public housing into mixed-income communities that empower former residents. The program was created in 1992 following a report by the National Commission on Severely Distressed Public Housing, which concluded that approximately 86,000 public housing units in the U.S. needed revitalization. Since 1993, HUD has awarded 248 HOPE VI Revitalization grants totaling approximately $6 billion to 130 local housing authorities.

Housing authorities are competitively selected for HOPE VI grants based on many factors including the effectiveness and project readiness of their revitalization plans. HUD gives recipients the flexibility to develop revitalization plans that meet their local needs. Among other criteria, grantees are also awarded funds based on the capacity of the housing authority and its development team to administer and manage completion of the revitalization effort; the severity of physical distress of the development; the ability of the housing authority to supplement the HOPE VI grant with funding from other sources, private, state or local government; and the ability to provide supportive services to displaced residents.

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HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation’s fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.