Seattle Housing decides how to use $17 million in stimulus funds
Rainier Vista projects receive priority
SEATTLE—March 27, 2009—Seattle Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners voted at its March 16 meeting to use economic stimulus funding on three projects. All of the projects can begin construction within 120 days. They include construction of Tamarack Place at Rainier Vista, infrastructure at Rainier Vista and rehabilitation work at Bell Tower.
In February, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Seattle Housing is to receive $17 million in funds for these projects under this legislation. Housing authorities across Washington will receive over $40 million in all.
As chair of the Senate Housing Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Patty Murray worked to make sure that job-creating investments in Washington's local housing agencies were part of the Recovery Act. Senator Murray voted to pass the Recovery Act on February 13. The bill was signed into law by President Obama on February 17.
"This will be a shot in the arm for communities throughout our state," said Senator Murray. "In the face of an ongoing recession, this funding will help create local jobs, provide better and more affordable housing, and help struggling families meet their most basic needs."
Tamarack Place is an 86-unit low-income apartment building that will be built next to the Rainier Vista Boys & Girls Club on the east side of Martin Luther King, Jr. Way S. The financing package for this building will include $7,069,888 in stimulus funds. Building permits are already in place. Construction could start as early as summer 2009.
Along with projects at Rainier Vista, the Low Income Public Housing Program's Bell Tower will receive significant upgrades as a result of stimulus funding.
An additional $6.5 million will be used for construction at Rainier Vista north of Oregon St. It will help build sewers, electrical systems, streets and sidewalks. With the completion of this work, the Housing Authority will be able to proceed with the construction of additional low-income housing once funding is secured.
A rehabilitation project at Bell Tower will use an additional $3.5 million of stimulus funding. Bell Tower is a 118-unit apartment building on First Avenue in downtown Seattle. The funding will provide new windows for the building, waterproof the exterior and correct water line problems. (For several years, residents of Bell Tower have had inadequate hot water.) The rehab program will also create 15 apartments that meet federal standards for accessibility.
Any funding remaining after the completion of these projects will go toward creating new parks at High Point.
Washington State's $40 million is part of $3 billion included in the Recovery Act for public housing. This funding will go directly to local housing authorities.