Groundbreaking Event Launches Housing Hilltop
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Jan. 20 to launch Housing Hilltop, Tacoma Housing Authority’s largest affordable housing project since the New Salishan development.
Housing Hilltop will bring 231 affordable housing units to Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood. The project includes 13,000 square feet of commercial retail space, including a 10,000-square-foot performing arts and community gathering space.
Pierce County Council Chair Ryan Mello, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland and Congressman Derek Kilmer joined THA Executive Director April Black and and THA Vice Chair Minh-Anh Hodge for the groundbreaking.
"I always say what’s good for Tacoma is good for Pierce County, and this is great for Tacoma,” Mello said in his remarks at the ceremony. "This is the model to bring to scale to address our county’s affordable housing crisis.”
For several years, THA, the Hilltop community, and other local groups have been planning for the changes coming to the Hilltop due to the installation of the light rail. While there are benefits from this investment, the community also clearly identified fear of losing its cultural identity, losing housing affordability and retail space no longer being affordable to small and BIPOC businesses. THA is making efforts to address these concerns in its Housing Hilltop development including housing policies that will allow households that have been displaced from the Hilltop to return to the neighborhood.
THA is working with Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center (TUPAC) to lease the performing arts space and will prioritize BIPOC businesses to rent the other spaces. These spaces will likely be places where the community can watch performances like they have never seen before, shop, eat, and interact with business owners and neighbors contributing to the fabric of the community.
The project is supported by $1.9 million from the city of Tacoma and $3 million in federal funds secured by Kilmer and Senator Maria Cantwell. The federal funds will help build the commercial space on the property, with approximately $1 million available to help BIPOC businesses complete the necessary tenant improvements that turn a "shell” into a real useable space.
The Housing Hilltop complex will be made up of a North Building and South Building. The North Building will be located along South L Street, bounded by South 10th Street to the north and 11th Street to the south. It will offer 137 affordable housing units: 50 one-bedroom units; 29 two-bedroom units; 50 three-bedroom units; and eight three-bedroom two-story units. Seven of these units will be ADA accessible.
The North Building will have 58 parking stalls, seven of them ADA accessible, 12 electric vehicle ready stalls and 98 secure bike parking stalls. Building amenities include a west-facing street-level courtyard, an east-facing level 2 courtyard, a common room adjacent to the street-level courtyard, a common laundry room adjacent to the Level 2 courtyard, a media/computer room and on-site property management.
The South Building will be located at the southeastern corner of 11th and L streets, directly across 11th Street from the North building. This property will feature 94 affordable housing units with 30 one-bedroom units; 54 two-bedroom units; five three-bedroom units; five three-bedroom two-story units, and five units ADA accessible.
Residents will be able to park among 45 parking stalls, 11 of them ADA accessible. There will be nine electric vehicle ready stalls and 75 secure bike parking stalls. Building amenities include an east-facing level 2 courtyard, a common room adjacent to the residential lobby, a common laundry room adjacent to the Level 2 courtyard, and on-site property management.
THA says it hopes to complete the Housing Hilltop project in late 2024.
Source: Tacoma Weekly