SEATTLE—February 4, 2005—Earlier this week, real estate agents began accepting offers on properties being offered for sale by the Seattle Housing Authority. The Housing Authority is adjusting the mix of housing in its Scattered Sites portfolio over the next several years, in order to run the program more cost-effectively and to provide housing better suited to resident needs.
These units will be replaced as they are sold with units that are more cost effective to manage and, where possible, better located to serve resident needs. The low-density, “scattered” nature of the program will be preserved. The scattered site housing bought to replace the housing units sold will be located in the same neighborhoods and will be suitable for families.
SHA is contracting with a group of real estate agents to handle these sales. Properties are not being sold at auction, and the Housing Authority expects to receive full price offers that reflect market conditions in the neighborhoods where the housing is being sold.
According to Asset Manager Lawrence Hard, "We are excited to be working with private real estate agents to assist us with this process. All inquires regarding the properties should be directed to them."
The Scattered Sites program was established in 1978 to locate lower-density public housing throughout the city. Today SHA operates 787 units in single family, duplex, triplex and small multifamily buildings through this program.
SHA will make sure that the housing needs of residents living in the housing that is sold will continue to be met. The Housing Authority will assist them with moving to other scattered sites or to other SHA housing. Every effort will be made to house families in their current neighborhoods if that is what they want. If possible, moves will be scheduled at a time that is least disruptive to them.