Clark County Council signals support to bridge funding gap for Weaver Creek Commons affordable housing project

The Clark County Council on July 23 heard a briefing from the Vancouver Housing Authority about Weaver Creek Commons, a 100-unit affordable housing development planned for Battle Ground, and directed staff to pursue a financing plan that would combine $1 million currently available from the county's 14-06 affordable housing remittance with a multiyear pledge of future 14-06 receipts to close a roughly $5.5 million gap.

Vancouver Housing Authority CEO Andy Silver told the council the Weaver Creek project would include 100 rent- and income-restricted apartments at about 50%–60% of area median income, with 30 units carrying deeper subsidies and set-asides for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and for families experiencing homelessness in the Battle Ground School District. "It would be the first project that VHA develops in Battle Ground in about 20 years," Silver said.

The nut of the council discussion was finance. Silver and VHA staff described a financing package that includes Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), tax-exempt bonds, $5 million of VHA equity, $5 million from the Washington State Housing Trust Fund and deferred developer fee. Despite those commitments, Silver said, the project faced a timing-and-gap problem: higher interest rates and lower tax-credit pricing left about $5.5 million to close, and some funding commitments require a financial closing by the end of 2025.

Treasurer Alicia Topper, who also noted she serves as a commissioner of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, outlined technical options for an interfund loan and recommended examining the general fund reserve before using one-time balances. "Your payments would be about $700,000 a year to replenish the general fund through your loan payments," Topper said, describing repayment from 14-06 remittances as one option.

Budget Director Emily Swetzig told the council the general fund is already forecast to rely on most reserve balances to balance the 2026 budget, and that tapping one-time funds would reduce funding available for county facilities and other priorities. She identified approximately $4.6 million of one-time mental-health and contract-related balances that could be considered, but stressed competing departmental needs.

Council members expressed broad support for the project but differing comfort levels about a multiyear commitment of 14-06 funds. Several councilors said they wanted a fuller review of county funding options at a scheduled work session in August, including exploring a proposed 0.1% sales-tax option (discussed separately on the agenda as —1590— in the transcript). Several members also stressed the risk that delaying a commitment could jeopardize the project. "Delayed kills projects," one councilor said.

Facing the immediate financing need, a council member moved to direct staff to 1) commit the existing approximately $1 million balance in the county's 14-06 fund to Weaver Creek Commons and 2) pledge the equivalent of future 14-06 receipts over multiple years to cover the remaining gap, with final contract and funding decisions to return for council consideration on August 5. The motion was seconded; multiple councilors indicated assent by voice or gesture and staff said the item would return for formal action at the next meeting. Andy Silver said the additional pledge would likely allow VHA to secure interim financing.

The council and VHA also discussed alternatives the council could consider in coming weeks, including borrowing against other one-time county funds or exploring broader new revenue options to preserve funding for other affordable housing projects in the county.

The county will return the matter for formal consideration at the August 5 council meeting; council direction given July 23 did not in itself obligate county funds.

Votes at a glance: At the July 23 meeting the council also approved the minutes of July 16, 2025; the motion to approve the minutes was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote (Aye: Council Chair Sue Marshall; Councilor Young; Councilor Fuentes; Councilor Little).

The council asked staff to prepare formal documents for the Weaver Creek funding direction and to present a fuller financial analysis at the work session later in August.