Report: Skyway-West Hill and North Highline Anti-Displacement Strategies
What is the Skyway-West Hill and North Highline Anti-Displacement Strategies Report?
As the region grows and housing costs rise, Skyway-West Hill and North Highline residents have shared concerns about ongoing displacement and housing affordability. In response to the feedback heard during the 2018-2019 Skyway-West Hill and North Highline Subarea Land Use planning processes, the Department of Community and Human Services and the Department of Local Services are collaborating on a feasibility and legal analysis report that will:
evaluate tools, programs and regulations to develop and retain existing affordable housing in Skyway-West Hill and North Highline and
identify concrete actions that King County, or King County in partnership with other agencies, can take to prevent residential displacement.
What strategies will be included in the report?
King County Motion 15539 and Action 19 of the 2020 King County Comprehensive Plan update outlined specific anti-displacement and affordable housing strategies to examine in the report:
Community preference and right to return policies
Expanding property tax exemption opportunities for low-income seniors
Inclusionary zoning (mandatory or voluntary)
Increasing homeownership strategies such as rent to own, community land trusts, and down payment assistance programs
Local and inclusionary employment prioritization strategies for new affordable housing developments
Manufactured housing community preservation
"No net loss" provisions for the development of affordable housing units
Redevelopment assistance programs
Relocation assistance requirements
Residential community benefit agreements
Strategies to implement community land trusts, including a year long community engagement process and exploration of possible funding sources
Skyway-West Hill and North Highline Anti-Displacement Strategies Report – Project Timeline
What is the community’s role in the report?
Building off the community’s feedback, King County will work in close collaboration with the community to identify the strongest solutions to prevent displacement and increase housing affordability in Skyway-West Hill and North Highline. The key findings from the report will be shared with the community through a series of educational workshops to explain what each strategy does and does not do, how it might be applied, potential equity impacts, and important considerations. The final report and recommendations will be informed by conversation and dialogue with the community to identify key risks, community-supported mitigation of those risks, and areas of concern that may need addressing beyond the scope of the strategies included in the report. In addition, we hope to identify community partners who want to engage with us around the implementation of these strategies over the next few years.
Watch the SKYWAY-WEST HILL & NORTH HIGHLINE ANTI-DISPLACEMENT VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SERIES
In the fall of 2020, residents of Skyway-West Hill and North Highline came together to learn about the different anti-displacement strategies being explored by King County and share their experiences and opinions on these topics. In each workshop, facilitators provided an explanation of each strategy and how it works. Workshop Series Details:
Workshop 1: Strategies to Increase Affordable Homeownership
Explored Community land trusts, Rent-to-own and down payment assistance programs, and Property tax exemption opportunities.
Workshop 2: Strategies to Mitigate Displacement when Development Happens
Explored Community preference and right to return policies, Community benefit agreements, Relocation assistance, and Local and inclusionary employment prioritization.
Workshop 3: Strategies for Preservation and Creation of Affordable Housing
Explored Inclusionary zoning, Manufactured housing community preservation, "No net loss", and Redevelopment assistance programs.Workshop 4: Anti-Displacement Recommendations Discussion
King County’s Department of Community and Human Services and Department of Local Services co-hosted a virtual Anti-Displacement Recommendations Discussion hosted on January 30, 2021 as a follow up to the recently completed Anti-Displacement Workshop Series. 35 community members came together to share their priorities and recommendations for preventing displacement and increasing affordable housing in Skyway-West Hill and North Highline! The ideas shared with the County will help inform the development of recommendations for the Skyway-West Hill and North Highline Anti-Displacement Strategies Report.
Workshop 5: Inclusionary Zoning Discussion
King County's Department of Community and Human Services and Department of Local Services co-hosted a virtual Inclusionary Zoning Policy Presentation and Discussion on March 20, 2021 for residents of Skyway-West Hill and North Highline, as a follow up to the recently completed Anti-Displacement Workshop Series. Residents reviewed possible options for an Inclusionary Zoning policy in Skyway-West Hill and North Highline and provided input and feedback.
Click here to watch ALL the recorded workshop sessions!
Workshops #1, 2, and 3 materials are available in English, Somali, Spanish, & Vietnamese!
Explore the Anti-Displacement Strategies Toolkit!
The Anti-Dispalcement Strategies Toolkit contains helpful resources about each strategy including handouts explaining each one and case studies from other cities around the Country.
Click here to explore the Anti-Displacement Strategies Toolkit, including reports on:
Help Create Recommendations for Preventing Displacement and Increasing Affordable Housing in Skyway-West Hill and North Highline!
REGISTER for the April 10th, 2021 1:00pm-3:30pm -- Anti-Displacement Draft Recommendations Report-Back. Review and discuss the draft recommendations for preventing displacement and increasing affordable housing in Skyway-West Hill and North Highline!
Questions?
Alice Morgan-Watson, Housing Community Engagement Program Manager, Department of Community and Human Services, alice.morganwatson@kingcounty.gov, 206-263-0794