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Spokane Valley to transfer 1.3 acres for affordable housing; City Council awarded site to Habitat for Humanity
Summary
City council purchased 1.3 acres with ARPA funds and awarded the lot to Habitat for Humanity under an RFP; Habitat plans 24 homes for households at or below 80% of area median income with a long-term affordability covenant.
Spokane Valley staff told the task force that the City Council used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to buy 1.3 acres on the city’s east side and issued a request for proposals for affordable housing; staff said the council awarded the site to Habitat for Humanity.
A staff presenter described the site as 1.3 acres near the Loews and said the council allocated $2 million of ARPA funding for property acquisition. “They purchased 1.3 acres near the Loews on the East side of the city,” the presenter said during the meeting.
According to staff, Habitat for Humanity proposed to build eight triplexes — 24 units — planned for homeownership and targeted to households at or below 80% of area median income; staff said Habitat will hold a covenant on the land so the units remain affordable for 90 years. The presenter said the homes are energy‑efficient and that Habitat’s construction approach reduces operating costs, citing heat bills “right around $36 a month” as an example of lower utility costs.
Timing and next steps: Staff said the project must still complete contract execution and land‑use processes; they anticipated substantive activity next year once those steps are complete. A single nearby lot included in the RFP will be developed as a four‑bedroom single‑family home, staff added.
Why it matters: The acquisition responds to land scarcity as a barrier to affordable housing and creates permanently affordable homeownership opportunities for working households. Task force members asked for a Habitat presentation to the task force for more detail on timeline and eligibility criteria.
Provenance (selected transcript excerpts): Staff summary of the RFP and award: “They purchased 1.3 acres near the Loews on the East side of the city. And, they put out an RFP asking for proposals for affordable housing.” Staff description of Habitat proposal: “Habitat for Humanity … will be building 24 units … reserved to individuals or families below 80% of the area median income.”
Ending: Staff said they would invite Habitat for Humanity to present more detailed site plans and timeline information to the task force at a future meeting.
