The City's Downtown Strategy includes numerous recommendations to encourage a range of housing development, including a development incentive Tool Box. Many of these recommendations have already been put in place and are being used to develop new market-rate housing units. From 2013-2018, 318 market-rate housing units have been constructed downtown. An additional 585 units are under construction or in the City's permit review process.
The Downtown Strategy also recommends adopting a comprehensive housing strategy to maintain an appropriate mix of housing to fit the changing demographics and incomes of people in downtown. It also includes numerous recommendations to ensure housing, businesses, entertainment venues, trails and open space coexist to create a vibrant, active downtown.
The City also continues to work with partners to support housing that is affordable for people with low-incomes, as well as related services.
In 2018, downtown projects included providing a mitigation site at Olympia Avenue and Franklin Street for individuals experiencing homelessness, and tiny shelter village on Plum Street (both on city-owned property). The City also initiated a homelessness response planning process.
A ballot measure was approved by voters in 2018 to establish a Home Fund for additional construction of affordable housing for those with low incomes.