PORT TOWNSEND — The city of Port Townsend saw a major increase in building permits last year, and the city hopes the increase could help make housing in Port Townsend more affordable.
“We had a substantial increase in building permits from 2015 to 2016,” said Lance Bailey, the city’s planning director. “It looks like that trend will continue into 2017.”
According to Bailey, the city saw a 48 percent increase in building permits in 2016. The size of those building projects ranges from remodels to multi-unit projects.
Bailey said the city has also been in talks about a project to build up to 700 housing units. The developer is expected to apply for a permit this year.
“Surprisingly enough, it’s mostly local investment,” Bailey said. “A lot of it is local rather than any big developers from out of town.”
The hope, according to Bailey, is that as these projects come in, the city will be able to work with developers to find a way to keep their new developments affordable.
“The trick is, if the city does this, how can we be sure housing will remain affordable in the long term?” Bailey said. “Once something hits the market, then the market dictates the price.”
In the city council’s strategic plan, affordable housing is a top priority. Bailey said city staff members are looking at incentives, such as density bonuses, to encourage developers to make new units affordable for what Bailey called “workforce housing.”
“It’s not government housing but trying to make things affordable for the average worker,” Bailey said.
“That’s where it get a little harder since that’s harder to define.
“When it falls into workforce housing, it’s hard to assure it’s going to remain affordable.”
________
Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
