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Developer urges county to commit 7‑acre site for affordable housing to serve local workers
Summary
Bethany Fortunato asked the county to pursue rezoning and commit a 7‑acre county parcel at 1840 25th Street for a tax‑credit affordable housing development that would target households at 60–80% of area median income, arguing it would help retain teachers, healthcare and manufacturing workers.
At a May 19 county commission meeting, affordable housing developer and local planning‑board member Bethany Fortunato urged commissioners to take preliminary steps to commit a county‑owned 7‑acre parcel (identified in her remarks as 1840 25th Street) for a future Section 42 tax‑credit rental development to serve working families.
Fortunato, who described a 40‑year career in multifamily affordable housing, said the site is already county‑owned, located in the city and is well‑served by transit and nearby employers. She told the board the city supports rezoning the parcel for up to 10 units per acre with a design respectful of neighborhood character.
"If we really want to solve this problem, we got to quit talking about it and actually do something," Fortunato said, pressing the board to work with the city on rezoning and to consider a long‑term commitment of the site for an affordable housing project using the federal Section 42 program.
She offered estimates of affordability ranges and impacts: units at 60% of area median income (her example for a three‑person household) would correspond to an income cap she cited as $55,200 in 2026; she said tax‑credit rentals could serve teachers, emergency responders, health‑care workers and other county staff who earn too little to afford recent market‑rate units.
Commissioners thanked Fortunato for raising the parcel and noted staff would follow up. The presentation was informational only; staff said the administrator would meet with Fortunato and the city to explore rezoning and next steps.
What’s next: Fortunato asked the board to take a first step to work with the city on rezoning and to consider committing the parcel for future affordable housing development; staff indicated an administrator meeting and follow‑up discussion would occur.
