Leavenworth Housing Advisory Committee creates roadmap in its second year

LEAVENWORTH – The Housing Advisory Committee (HAC) has outlined its plans of action for 2025.

The HAC is tasked with making recommendations to the City Council on how to invest its housing fund, including identifying options for funding land purchases or the construction of housing, reviewing housing developments that request city funds, and identifying infrastructure improvements that promote housing options. The city currently has $400,000 reserved for supporting affordable housing projects.

The committee, which was “re-established” in 2024, spent its first year educating itself by engaging with housing-related community members, according to HAC member Kurt Peterson. In its second year, the HAC plans to take actionable steps on four key priorities: a semi-formal request for ideas and proposals, identification of city-owned property and development, engaging with local groups and politicians for coordinated effort, and eventually putting together a Leavenworth housing summit.

The “request for ideas” would serve as a semi-formalized intake process for affordable housing projects and proposals brought forth by community members. It aims to seek viable projects for the city to invest in, while also raising awareness of the funding and assistance available for those interested in pursuing such projects. 

“That's what this committee is kind of charged with, is getting things to a point where we can take it and say, ‘Hey, we've got a project that's viable,’” said Mayor Carl Florea.

As an example, Peterson presented a preliminary concept in a presentation to the council on March 25, such as potentially partnering with developers Tom Lin and Matt Melton on a project on River Bend Drive. The original plan included creating six lots and building duplexes, but has now shifted to considering cottage housing with low-cost manufactured homes. Peterson told the council it was working to facilitate ways in which some of the homes could be secured as permanent affordable housing.

“Because of the actions of this council and the ordinances that you guys passed around cottage housing and other things, they changed directions,” said Peterson. “They are all in when it comes to supporting workforce housing.”

The HAC is also planning to explore the city-owned land on the north side of Rattlesnake Hill, potentially partnering with a land-trust organization to develop.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media