News Release
King County Housing Authority
600 Andover Park West, Seattle, WA 98188
For more information contact:
Rhonda Rosenberg, Director of Communications, (206) 574-1185 or
Stephen Norman, Executive Director, (206) 574-1193
June 7, 2006
NEW MIXED- INCOME DEVELOPMENT IN WHITE CENTER WINS GOVERNOR’S LEGACY OF LIVABLE COMMUNITIES AWARD
Seattle - The King County Housing Authority’s Greenbridge project received a Legacy of Livable Communities award from Gov. Christine Gregoire today. Located in White Center, Greenbridge is a master planned community that will provide an array of affordable housing choices, parks and trails, and shops and services to a mix of households with very-low to moderate-incomes on the site that previously housed a public housing complex called Park Lake Homes.
The award recognizes outstanding achievement in creating livable and vibrant communities and advances the goals of the growth management act.
King County Housing Authority and GGLO, in partnership with the County Department of Development and Environmental Services, are responsible for the design and development of Greenbridge.
“We’re very excited to receive this award,” said King County Housing Authority Executive Director Stephen Norman. “By adding density, mixing both incomes and uses and creating homeownership opportunities, Greenbridge will help residents, the local business community and the tax base. It’s a new vision for affordable housing that offers benefits to everyone, from the tenant in public housing to the entire neighborhood.”
King County worked closely with KCHA to develop a demonstration ordinance that allowed the Authority to take advantage of innovative “green” design and development techniques. Greenbridge features a number of creative approaches to environmental sustainability including biofiltration swales, reduced road widths, solar panels and deconstruction and recycling of existing structures.
The $250 million project has already begun to transform and revitalize White Center, an unincorporated area of King County just south of the Seattle city line. It is the county’s poorest region.
When completed in 2013, Greenbridge will include an extensive network of parks, a trail system, an elementary school, branch library, community center and YWCA facility. A major Head Start and Early Learning Center is also planned for the site. When completed, the development will accomplish a number of growth management objectives including increased density; the integration of mixed uses such as neighborhood-scale retail, live/work spaces and community facilities; and a combination of low-income, affordable and market rate housing. It is conveniently located on a public transit route.
In a letter nominating the project, a contingent of seven elected officials including Sen. Patty Murray, U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott and King County Executive Ron Sims, wrote that Greenbridge “will serve as a model development that jurisdictions across the country can emulate.”
The funding for the site infrastructure, housing and community services is provided by a large variety of public and private sources including private investors, home sales and rental income, federal, state and local governments and private foundations.
“We’re pleased to have the opportunity to work on this project with so many visionary partners,” said Mr. Norman. “It’s also nice to be recognized for the quality of our collective efforts. Already, Greenbridge is a sustainable, vital, vibrant community.”
The grand opening for the first phase of Greenbridge is scheduled for July 7.
KCHA administers a range of quality affordable rental and homeownership programs for residents of King County. The Authority serves more than 17,000 households on a daily basis, including families, elderly and disabled individuals.