Funding approved for downtown affordable housing development

Published 2:53 pm Tuesday, April 10, 2012

The council approved funding for a 56-unit low-income apartment complex downtown and a women’s shelter in north Bellevue.

The city will contribute $635,000 from its Housing Fund for the Low Income Housing Institute’s Downtown Bellevue Apartments. Endorsed by ARCH (A Regional Coalition for Housing), the six-story building is to be built on a lot at 204 111th Ave. NE that LIHI purchased in 2009.

The $15 million project would serve families and individuals with household incomes at 30, 50 and 60 percent of the area median income. LIHI is applying for $10 million in low-income housing tax credits.

ARCH, a partnership of King County and Eastside cities pooling resources to increase affordable housing in the region, is lining up funding from the county and the other 10 cities in the coalition for the project.

The council also allocated $200,000 for expansion of the Sophia Way women’s shelter, now in the First Congregational Church downtown. With $576,000 from ARCH members and private donations, the daylight basement of Saint Luke’s Church north of downtown would be built out with bathrooms, a kitchen, dining area and 20 sleeping carrels.