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Building Ohana outlines plans for ‘Ohana Village’ in Liberty Lake and asks city to consider multifamily tax-exemption
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Summary
Building Ohana presented plans for an accessible, mixed-income neighborhood including 40–44 cottages and supportive housing, said it has initial funding and a site-planning contract, and urged the city to consider using the state’s multifamily tax exemption (RCW 84.14) to improve affordability.
Deb Fink, executive director of nonprofit Building Ohana, told the council on July 15 that the group is advancing plans to develop “Ohana Village” in Liberty Lake: a mixed-income, multigenerational neighborhood designed to include 40–44 cottage-style homes, co-living suites, a common house, and supportive units for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Fink said the organization has made an offer on roughly 8 acres and has funding to carry the project through acquisition and predevelopment “up to the point of construction” after the organization approved a contract for site-specific planning earlier the same day. She told the council the village would accommodate roughly 150–170 residents and would include a mix of rental and homeownership opportunities and a dedicated number of units for people who need full-time supports.
“Ohana Village will be a mixed income, multigenerational, and fully fully accessible neighborhood of homes for a diverse population of around a 150 to a 170 residents,” Fink said.
Fink described the nonprofit’s interest in the state multifamily tax exemption tool, which she said the group’s financial adviser identified as a possible way to reduce long‑term housing costs for residents. The presentation noted that a city adopts an MFTE ordinance and designates eligible areas under state law; a later slide in the staff/consultant presentation mentioned RCW 84.14 as the enabling statute for MFTE programs in Washington. Fink said her financial adviser estimated the exemption could yield a benefit “anywhere between $1,500 and $3,000 a year” per household depending on housing costs.
Council members asked questions about process and timing. One council member asked whether the city could donate general‑fund dollars to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; city staff answered generally that the city has broad discretion over how to appropriate general government revenues but that a formal discussion would be necessary to determine mechanics and authority.
Fink said Building Ohana has established partnerships with local developers, disability service organizations and national design consultants and that the board had authorized the site planning work to develop footprints and layouts to share with landowners and partners. She asked the city to consider policy tools such as MFTE and to include Building Ohana in future policy conversations. Fink also offered to provide a one‑page research briefing on MFTE and to connect city staff to the project’s financial adviser for technical questions.
No legislative action or city commitments were made at the July 15 meeting; Fink asked for further exploration of MFTE and for avenues to partner on land and policy tools.
The organization’s next steps, per Fink’s presentation, are to complete detailed site planning and to continue fundraising and partner development; staff said the city can explore options including a future budget allocation or other forms of support if council chooses to pursue them.
