Bellevue releases draft update to affordable housing strategy; staff seeks council feedback ahead of January adoption

Bellevue City Council was briefed on an update to the city's affordable housing strategy at a study session, where staff outlined goals, draft strategies and community engagement ahead of a planned return for adoption in January.

The update frames a 10-year target of 5,700 income‑restricted units under 80% of area median income (AMI) and presents a gap analysis showing staff project the city’s current tools and market conditions will likely produce or preserve about 3,700 such units in the next decade — roughly 65% of the target. Bianca Segal, Director of the Office of Housing, told council the target is needs‑based: "This is an ambitious target. It is not based on what we think we can accomplish. It is based on estimated need in the community."

Staff said the update emphasizes preservation as a comparatively faster and lower‑cost approach than new construction. Hannah Von Miller, senior affordable housing planner, described two preservation strategies in the draft: acquiring and rehabilitating naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) and assessing the condition of the city's existing income‑restricted portfolio so funds can be deployed quickly when acquisition…