Shoreline council approves multifamily tax-exemption contract for Alta North City Apartments, 5-0

Shoreline City Council voted 5-0 Monday, April 28, 2025, to approve a multifamily tax exemption program contract with North City Apartment Owner LP for the Alta North City Apartments at 17712 15th Avenue N.E.

The council action implements the city’s MFTE program for that project; council members said the contract follows existing program rules and staff responses provided before the vote. The decision came after public comment raising concerns that MFTEs can shift property tax burdens and create pressure on small businesses in walkable retail cores.

Andrew Howe, owner of Uplift Climbing in North City, told the council his gym employs 10 people — six full-time Shoreline residents — and that commercial property tax bills paid through triple-net leases felt “proportionally higher” than taxes on new apartment buildings that receive MFTE exemptions. Howe said the effect creates displacement pressure on small businesses and urged the council to consider tax benefits or landlord incentives to keep long-term small-business tenants in neighborhood retail cores.

Council member Adamasu, who reviewed staff materials and led the council discussion on the item, framed the vote around housing and building resilience. Adamasu asked staff detailed questions about how the MFTE program defines tenant amenities and how income eligibility works. A housing staff member (identified in the record as Brittney) said qualifying income for the MFTE units is “0 to 70% AMI,” meaning anyone who makes less than 70% of area median income is eligible, but the rent level for the MFTE units is set under the contract and does not vary within that band. Brittney also said the city’s annual project certification requires owners to report vacancies only if a unit has been vacant longer than three months.

During council discussion staff reported that, for this project, 25 of the building’s 46 externally facing units look out to surrounding streets and 21 face an interior courtyard; staff said MFTE units are intended to have “similar amenities and equal access” though the city code does not specifically list balconies as a required amenity. Council members emphasized that MFTE tenants should not receive lesser amenities than other building residents.

The council approved the contract with a voice vote; the clerk recorded the roll as: Council member Pobey — Aye; Council member Scully — Aye; Mayor Roberts — Aye; Council member Robertson — Aye; Council member Ottomastu — Aye. The motion passed 5 to 0.

Staff said any broader changes to the MFTE program (for example, altering AMI bands or rent-setting) would require code changes and a separate policy process; the city will consider program options as part of a forthcoming affordable housing feasibility study.

Votes at a glance: the MFTE contract for Alta North City Apartments was approved, 5–0. No other formal amendments or conditions were recorded at the time of adoption.