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

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

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.