[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6244385,"mediaKeyId","3230321-8fecfc20faa278bceb51c6b494680526","parentId",3230321,"title","Bridge Housing to buy View Kirkland; city offers $10,000 to secure long‑term affordability commitments","audioSeconds",140,"startMs",2261000,"endMs",2401000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3230321-8fecfc20faa278bceb51c6b494680526&start=2261&end=2401","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3230321-8fecfc20faa278bceb51c6b494680526/thumbnail_2261000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6244385/Kirkland/King-County/Washington/Bridge-Housing-to-buy-View-Kirkland-city-offers-10000-to-secure-longterm-affordability-commitments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244385-660f11a12179383f65453e797bc0cba8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179760&Signature=FXeTLqoRhFPPm7NKl92UerSGgvLy5ly2ehWyL37S2ovIjJMb1WzhGa7CmGUcYv-TDSrT0WsUzM496CFiblZDj4fH6psPkYrtZNRglT7T-zaqerYm6SB7kWjdNaKZniTqn4ok74PF6iIIQhoLx-U3Cx8QPWPFzc5~E0IeoL58yH6NY~vHDK3C8QnycNK~3tPHH3Hul2DU8W9tXbyb9c2hxUOjy2ZzJSd0OaC4dTQzrDW22JFt52Gz9ftAgBIjd~VaPOf6kbizeV2-6HOMh7qxnClpFlVanyR98k7K5mhVjIxfXd3REEIiF54ismYO39LeTUVmGOrfKAAzH~5Sa4ju~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kirkland City, WA","date","2025-05-07T05:46:03Z","article","The City Council approved a $10,000 contribution to help Bridge Housing secure a property‑tax exemption and to convert the View Kirkland apartment complex to long‑term affordable housing, subject to an amendment that the city manager negotiate protections for current residents.

Lede: The council voted unanimously to support Bridge Housing’s planned purchase of the approximately 200‑unit View Kirkland apartments (purchase price just over $55 million), providing a $10,000 city contribution that makes the nonprofit eligible for a statutory property‑tax exemption and, in exchange, will trigger a city affordability covenant and a separate, long‑term affordability covenant with the Amazon Housing Equity Fund.

Why it matters: The buyer, Bridge Housing, announced it has secured a $222 million award from the Amazon Housing Equity Fund to finance the purchase and preservation of deeply affordable rents at the site. The deal would immediately preserve a large block of rental housing in Totem Lake under long‑term affordability controls, with a relatively small one‑time city investment.

What council approved
Denise Russell, planning supervisor, told the council Bridge Housing was selected as buyer in March 2025 and asked the city for a $10,000 contribution that would let Bridge qualify for the nonprofit property‑tax exemption referenced in the presentation (transcript citation of RCW). In return the city will sign a funding and regulatory agreement requiring the owner to set aside five units at 50% AMI for 20 years (evenly distributed by unit type) and to cooperate with broader affordability protections provided by the Amazon covenant.

Under the Amazon financing described in the council packet, Bridge would record a 99‑year affordability covenant on the property: staff said 156 units would be restricted at 60% AMI and 37 at 80% AMI; the covenant limits annual rent increases to 4.5%. Staff also said Bridge intends to honor existing leases; as units naturally vacate, income‑qualified households would fill the restricted units. Two units will be reserved for property managers and are not counted in the affordability totals noted in the packet.

Council amendment and manager authority
Multiple council members asked whether current residents would be protected if their incomes do not meet the new limits when the sale closes. The council added an amendment giving the city manager authority to negotiate, before finalizing the city contribution, a written commitment from Bridge that current households will not be required to vacate a unit because of income eligibility rules; if staff could not secure that commitment in time for the buyer’s closing, the council agreed to revisit the matter at the May 20 meeting.

Next steps
Bridge’s purchase was scheduled to close May 22, 2025; staff said the $10,000 contribution will be drawn from the city’s existing housing funds. After closing, Bridge will verify resident incomes and work with residents to honor leases and, where eligible, transition residents to the lower restricted rents. The city will sign the funding and regulatory agreement that memorializes the five units at 50% AMI for 20 years and will coordinate with Amazon’s regulatory covenant covering the rest of the property.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kirkland City Council Meeting May 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council voted unanimously to support Bridge Housing’s planned purchase of the View Kirkland apartments and to provide a $10,000 city contribution to enable a nonprofit property‑tax exemption.","taxTitle","Kirkland, King County, Washington","taxId",2569,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6244393,"Kirkland sues, appeals King County’s Houghton transfer station siting and EIS",447,729000,1176000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3230321-8fecfc20faa278bceb51c6b494680526&start=729&end=1176","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3230321-8fecfc20faa278bceb51c6b494680526/thumbnail_729000.jpg","/articles/6244393/Kirkland/King-County/Washington/Kirkland-sues-appeals-King-Countys-Houghton-transfer-station-siting-and-EIS","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244393-fcf86fb15c85a136463ce42af8bf7d08/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179760&Signature=XmZ9GFz6T0jpGjdyXarkDdux4kCaZ6bSRHzEWNS0RsUC3XIcIuuWKNcsio4g4YpiLCRkPnpAS1X5klcLDfzkAh2WWgoNcdYrrhLoy-egSjhAxX~2tQ1aUJPoTev0jH--VtjB1n2hAxnCZ1cu94CqmqUq1KIXjXO-zIsQrqrAIsstAGPVC3DjPF7jwEyi~hLYO63RWWFzvK7TM5C5qTuIQAiSLHCrAWeEa13LM~jsdoBvL2lgfEAtgV4F8FWQV~~BN2gfSXnjnqhY7XOr0RZd8ZWDue5MaXLqynT5RgHZAULnM~9csu9y35CQ9e9BBYSQ7A81D5dtAWbEVEnJW8inLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kirkland officials said the city has launched parallel legal actions contesting King County’s selection of Alternative 1B at the Houghton site for the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station.

City attorneys and solid-waste staff told the council they had filed a notice of administrative appeal on March 27 and a complaint in Snohomish County Superior Court on April 21 challenging the siting choice and the adequacy of the final environmental impact statement (EIS).

Why it matters: The city says the county’s choice to expand into more of the old landfill footprint (Alternative 1B) raises different and greater transportation, hazardous‑materials and mitigation questions than the other alternatives. That, Kirkland officials argue, required fuller analysis in the final EIS and better documentation of the siting decision. The outcome could force King County to re-do parts of the EIS or change mitigation commitments; it could also affect whether the facility, as proposed, can be permitted in Kirkland.

What city staff told the council
Jenna McGinnis, the city’s solid-waste program lead, summarized the county’s process and the options evaluated in the EIS: two alternatives at Houghton and one at Woodinville. She said the final EIS was released March 10 and King County announced Alternative 1B—the option that digs further into the closed landfill—on March 21.

City Attorney Darcie Eilers explained the two legal paths Kirkland has opened. The administrative appeal is focused on the EIS itself; it will be heard by King County’s hearing examiner and could require County staff to redo analyses if the examiner finds deficiencies. Separately Kirkland filed a superior‑court action that challenges the siting decision as arbitrary and capricious under the applicable code and state law, while reserving its claims tied to the EIS.

Officials identified the city’s main concerns as:
- Insufficient transportation analysis for the difference between Alternative 1A (replacement at the existing footprint) and 1B (construction adjacent while the existing facility remains open), especially impacts during simultaneous operation and construction and impacts at several intersections the city says were not adequately evaluated;
- Inadequate hazardous‑materials analysis and mitigation given deeper excavation into an old landfill under Alternative 1B, including risk to nearby workers and residents, likely higher mitigation costs and possible construction delays; and
- Procedural issues: several substantive comments submitted on the draft EIS were not addressed clearly in the final EIS, and King County issued addenda that the city says did not allow adequate time or transparency for review.

Process and next steps
Eilers said the hearing‑examiner pre‑hearing conference is expected in late June, though schedule adjustments are possible; she also said the city has engaged outside counsel to support the administrative appeal and the superior‑court matter. The city expects the county’s hearing examiner may consolidate Kirkland’s appeal with a separate appeal filed by a citizen group (Phil Allen and Friends of Taylor Fields) to avoid inconsistent outcomes.

Kirkland staff also told the council that if King County later submits a permit application in Kirkland for construction, that local permitting process (a Type B permit) will include additional project‑specific review and public hearings; the council would be notified when a permit application is filed and council members would need to follow ex parte rules for hearings.

Council members asked how remedies might look. Eilers said a successful administrative appeal could require County staff to redo parts of the EIS; it would not by itself prevent King County from keeping the siting decision, but it would require fuller evaluation consistent with statute.

Where the city’s public information is posted
Staff told the council they have compiled documents and links on the city’s web page kirklandlaw.gov/nerts and will continue to update the site as the appeals proceed.","Kirkland officials said the city has launched parallel legal actions contesting King County’s selection of Alternative 1B at the Houghton site for the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6244389,"Kirkland plans to expand Juanita Bay wildflower meadow with $34,500 Waste Management grant",1016,1999000,3015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3230321-8fecfc20faa278bceb51c6b494680526&start=1999&end=3015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3230321-8fecfc20faa278bceb51c6b494680526/thumbnail_1999000.jpg","/articles/6244389/Kirkland/King-County/Washington/Kirkland-plans-to-expand-Juanita-Bay-wildflower-meadow-with-34500-Waste-Management-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244389-790f3444549b1da8479856d45f67b233/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179760&Signature=l-Pw61ed7WvKovYLB9CleEucNnpadfR7QYRBJ1gpCa9C32aUTuDa3PCcntvPlOF~jc-LFiR6KYnR91iBZvkCVMMGQctLnX0mXJ0fPB77-P4De9oWldvmnaotz33KNLiQTllaG23h1nlXw-VvPmF2J42u~ZCvM34PFl2DCoEOpi03AbiJYyXslXy1BuP0g7PL4JeJLA77lGEJmjNQckgzxCl38Mbqzfm6D5w-EyPFVOdhDbLjygwK~un-J8wz7bmjC1xCCpZywXWqfXOuaHr432RKeGZyxKm8CoRpXVD8KqcXWoTzWdLZVPSP33Uuf~cDLqxDYrATEb-W1opHpEYrcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kirkland parks staff described a two‑year plan to expand a wildflower meadow at Juanita Bay Park and asked the council to note that construction and seeding will be staged to test approaches across the site’s microclimates.

Why it matters: Parks staff said the project is intended to improve pollinator habitat, provide visual amenity to attract visitors, and reduce routine mowing costs in portions of the park. Staff said the city applied for and expects to use a $34,500 Waste Management green grant to buy seed and bulbs and to spread costs and site experiments across two planting seasons.

What staff presented
Jody Galvin, Interim Parks and Planning and Development Manager, and Jason Filan, parks management superintendent, told the council the pilot focuses on Restoration Management Unit 28 in the western half of Juanita Bay Park. The site includes former golf‑course turf and open lawn; staff said it has many microclimates and is therefore a good testing ground for a range of native species.

Staff described small‑scale trials that began in 2020—different site preparation techniques (aeration, scraping, tilling, engineered wood straw), creation of seeded mounds reminiscent of south Puget Sound “Mima mounds,” and placement of logs to protect seedlings and create photo opportunities to draw visitors away from fragile planted spots. Staff said the seeded patches already show populations of native species including riverbank lupine, camas and fiddleneck, and that some species (such as lupine) have begun to reseed themselves.

Budget and schedule
Parks staff said the city applied for a $34,500 Green for Good grant from Waste Management; staff plan to spend that money on seed and bulbs across two planting seasons to limit the risk of a single failed seeding and to test methods. Seed vendors named in the presentation were Northwest Meadowscapes (Port Townsend) and Silver Falls Seed Company (Oregon). Staff said the approach will combine: targeted tilling around known native patches, broadcast seeding of tilled areas in late fall, bulb planting for spring blooms, and selective annual overseeding for color in spring.

Staff also emphasized community engagement. They said neighbors along the park were notified proactively and staff mows perimeter paths and around benches and tables to preserve sight lines and access. Staff said they will monitor results and repeat the farmscale seeding in fall 2025 and again in fall 2026, with a planned mowing of the meadow in late August or early September each season.

Council questions and next steps
Council members praised the project and asked whether the city is testing the approach at other sites. Staff said the city has used similar techniques at North Rose Hill woodlands and on difficult‑to‑mow hillsides, and that the parks department will oversee the two‑year pilot and return updates to the council.","Parks staff described a multi‑year pilot to expand wildflower meadows at Juanita Bay Park, using a $34,500 Waste Management green grant to buy native seed and bulbs and test planting methods across microclimates before scaling up.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6244375,"Council funds six Neighborhood Safety projects, approves expanded budget to cover rising costs",574,8652000,9226000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3230321-8fecfc20faa278bceb51c6b494680526&start=8652&end=9226","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3230321-8fecfc20faa278bceb51c6b494680526/thumbnail_8652000.jpg","/articles/6244375/Kirkland/King-County/Washington/Council-funds-six-Neighborhood-Safety-projects-approves-expanded-budget-to-cover-rising-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244375-2deac59bd37a8850084b306f6efbcdc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179760&Signature=hzgCTOQsSokRONTONJ6xx3K715MTwoLDsTDllKEpinPKNmK-a4Dw5rdkhs9wz2dR6d2IedAxlZaupxRxeJH-jQ9PUAisHlVYMiHY3u6hjicKH2ckqlZLpO0KG7-xjGqBcqDFmuxetN0~M~Z2nZgybuWv0ZKhcSgil0mUZ8zMQ8tEH-XJ9zzpXugNijfUaHhW~dNRgHf9ft1ptDsFO2Ma-WMvdMDFXZsy0sc8X-Eu4LyaT-gfpvHp7G8To3Ymy0BZ95~6s8BC7fyA-Sff1kmEBWZIo3yIKGKciRTKRyjftyvwSqLOfWeq~n3YenihSdKhi-1h8Zynyz7rXO35rbn0Dw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council approved the Neighborhood Safety Program (NSP) 2025 recommended project list and directed staff to proceed with funding the six projects prioritized by neighborhood panels, agreeing to increase the program allocation to cover estimated higher costs.

What council decided
After staff briefings and neighborhood panels, the council voted to proceed with “Option 2,” which funds all six recommended projects at a projected total of approximately $411,500 and directs staff to identify additional funding to cover the amount above the program’s base budget. The motion passed 6–0.

What the NSP will fund
The six projects selected by neighborhood and technical panels include a mix of pedestrian improvements, pathway surfacing and traffic‑calming measures. Highlights described by staff included:
- Norkirk / Peter Kirk Elementary crossing improvements: staff noted this project scored highly and asked council to support full funding despite higher cost estimates; staff said the project can be scoped to smaller phases but the neighborhood prioritized completing the pedestrian visibility and crossing safety work;
- Moss Bay: upgrade a ramp and bike access to the Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC) at Ninth Street;
- Central Houghton: signage and speed‑limit reminders along a CKC segment near Terrace Park to remind bicyclists to slow down; and
- Other lower‑cost, high‑community‑benefit projects in Rose Hill and Juanita.

Why staff sought additional funds
Staff said the NSP base budget has been $350,000 per year and that construction cost escalation has pushed the six projects above that allocation. The council approved increasing the NSP allocation for 2025 and directed staff to identify funding sources and to pursue efficient project scopes and contingencies to keep construction on schedule. Staff also noted that several NSP projects from earlier cycles are moving through design or into construction this year.

Council comments
Council members praised staff for the NSP process and noted that sidewalk gaps and other needs in neighborhoods without active associations (such as Totem Lake) should be considered for future program changes. Several council members supported reviewing the NSP budget level for future cycles to respond to rising construction costs.","The council approved the 2025 Neighborhood Safety Program recommended projects and directed staff to pursue additional funding to cover cost increases; the council approved Option 2 to fund six projects at an increased program total after neighborhood panels and staff scoring.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6244380,"Council selects Seattle Kraken team to develop Houghton iceplex, community center project",373,7430000,7803000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3230321-8fecfc20faa278bceb51c6b494680526&start=7430&end=7803","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3230321-8fecfc20faa278bceb51c6b494680526/thumbnail_7430000.jpg","/articles/6244380/Kirkland/King-County/Washington/Council-selects-Seattle-Kraken-team-to-develop-Houghton-iceplex-community-center-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6244380-5264deb495eabce5d28c2cf49791e7fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179760&Signature=SHws57VFcj9OhkOkQvk2CANyk8nhiRZ9pDdiX8LqgTg-t6RkfOhziZboYJOhat3h2lzV6A0TUmbaP5Q2fOEYVojvYQeJZvPe6uPL552IxFtmMt~FvLxA1FenMDyb3mlUOIrHHVnyAfl7JCWY9nrF6B2M7yaRBYoQcYKbl4YC79pBHprD9kMxQOWSZoTVgrAtjzuOODQYLSx7zG4SuxVeIj0BUb0yUuMJnV7wegPnxNU86ZusOYRpR2lQi8Ypx73-Rf0Pj35JlJ8uGDCegzTT-d~VL004p5ebXgF07V9tV8m3sJ7u1Vk06lBLFPVcSncHA-Dq4W5F~gvDnwq6pzUoCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council voted unanimously to select the Seattle Hockey Partners (doing business as the Seattle Kraken) and Generator Studio as the developer team for a proposed ice skating facility, restaurant and community center at the Houghton Park & Play site, and to authorize staff to negotiate project agreements.

Why it matters: The Kraken‑led proposal is a high‑profile public‑private plan to build an ice arena and community facilities at a city site near the Houghton Park & Play property. Council selection of the RFQ respondent allows staff to move from selection into detailed negotiations over design, permitting, stormwater and public‑benefit commitments; final agreements and operational terms will return to council for approval.

What staff recommended
Deputy City Manager Jim López told the council the city issued a request for qualifications on February 24 and received one submittal from the Kraken/Generator team. Staff evaluated the response for prior experience, team qualifications, schedule feasibility, and financial capacity and recommended the Kraken team based on local track record (examples cited included an Iceplex in Northgate and other regional projects) and an apparent ability to finance and deliver the design and construction. López noted the RFQ process is only to select a developer; final project details and operating agreements will be negotiated and presented back to council.

Council action and next steps
Council Member Sweet moved, and Council Member Paschal seconded, a resolution selecting the Kraken/Generator team (Resolution 58‑62). The motion passed 6–0. Staff said they will proceed with negotiations on multiple parallel agreements (land‑use and ground‑lease issues, design and construction agreements, and operating arrangements) and will provide regular status updates; staff emphasized that final project approval will return to the council.

Council and public context
Council members repeatedly described the RFQ selection as one step in a longer process. López told the council staff will continue to examine permitting risks, stormwater infrastructure needs and community space collaboration as project details are negotiated. If staff and the developer reach full agreement on project terms that meet council’s public‑benefit expectations, the council will take final approval action at a later date.","Following a city RFQ, council voted 6–0 to select the Seattle Kraken/Generator Studio team to develop a proposed iceplex, restaurant and community center at the Houghton Park & Play site and authorized staff to negotiate project agreements and public‑benefit terms.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bridge Housing to buy View Kirkland; city offers $10,000 to secure long‑term affordability commitments

Kirkland sues, appeals King County’s Houghton transfer station siting and EIS

Kirkland plans to expand Juanita Bay wildflower meadow with $34,500 Waste Management grant

Council funds six Neighborhood Safety projects, approves expanded budget to cover rising costs

Council selects Seattle Kraken team to develop Houghton iceplex, community center project