Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Affordability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Alliance for Housing Affordability warns Everett housing production lags and cost burdens are rising
Summary
Chris Collier of the Alliance for Housing Affordability briefed the Everett City Council on county and city housing data showing slowed production since 2019, rising ownership costs, apartment construction concentrated 2018–2022, and severe rent cost burden for low-income renters.
Chris Collier, program manager for the Alliance for Housing Affordability, told the Everett City Council that housing production across Snohomish County and within Everett fell after 2019 and that affordability pressures are increasing.
Collier summarized countywide trends showing a 2018–2022 apartment construction boom but a decline in single-family and other ownership construction. "Townhomes are the exclusive alternative to single-family detached homes," Collier said. He warned the council the ownership market requires much higher incomes today than in the past: "The required income for [a median single-family home]… you must make $194,000 as a household to afford that single family detached house," he said, noting median household income in the county had not kept pace.
On rental burdens, Collier presented Census Bureau data showing a sharp increase in households spending 50% or more of income on rent in Everett. "If you make below $35,000 and try to rent in the city of Everett, it's almost a sure thing that you'll be paying more than half your income to rent," Collier said.
Collier also described the changing housing typology in Everett: manufactured homes and multifamily condominiums are rare now; middle housing (townhomes, duplexes, triplexes) is the main source of new ownership units; small-scale apartments (5–50 units) have largely disappeared. He urged the council to use its comprehensive plan update to consider bold actions and to coordinate regionally.
Council members and staff asked follow-up questions. Council Member Ryan asked for the percent of renters who are cost-burdened; Collier said he would follow up with the calculation. When asked why small multifamily buildings have declined, Collier suggested economies of scale for property managers and encouraged further inquiry with local builders. City staff said they actively engage the building community and noted Everett has taken steps to streamline permitting and outreach.
Collier closed by urging council engagement in regional planning: "If you as a city... have decided we want these things to happen, we want this graph to change, going to the building community and saying, this is our goal. How can you help us?"
