The group included officials as well as representatives of Friends of Shady Acres, according to dailyrecordnews, who met with Dan Watson and Tim Walter of the King County Housing Authority. Watson and Walter, noting that once MH communities close they are gone for good, the residents lose their independence and autonomy.
Kittitas County Commissioner Obie O’Brien said the trip was a good opportunity for the housing authority to look at options, noting, “More affordable housing is needed to find places for residents.”
Upon learning that King County spent $4 million to upgrade one of the communities, O’Brien said that equates to $40,000 per homesite, and it would be cheaper for the housing authority to build a new community. He said he has been working with private landowners to try to find land for nonprofit groups like Hope Source to purchase.
The county has a ban on building new MHCs, but it is considering passing an ordinance for siting MH near Ellensburg.
Director of the Kittitas County Housing Authority, Lowel Krueger, who set up the trip, said he is seeking a solution that works for everyone. “My job was to bring everyone together and see what someone has done,” he said. “I wanted to create a dialogue.” ##
(Photo credit: MHVillage-Vantage Glen manufactured home community in Renton, Washington)
