2021 Governor's Smart Communities Awards | City of Renton

Smart Partnership Award: For a joint public project that implements a comprehensive plan
City of Renton

Willowcrest Townhomes

According to Renton mayor Armondo Pavone, partnerships are vital for cities. To create the first multifamily net-zero energy and permanently affordable homeownership development in King County, the city collaborated with Homestead Community Land Trust, Renton Housing Authority and JP Morgan Chase Bank foundation. The successful partnership touted goals to support both affordable housing and climate-friendly development in the same project.

“Home ownership is just not that present in the affordable housing spectrum,” said Kathleen Hosfeld, executive director of Homestead Community Land Trust. “It’s a fact of life in King County that you can have a job that qualifies you to buy a home, you can have an income to buy a home and you can still be homeless.”

The Willowcrest Townhomes were financed and successfully developed through collaboration and multiple grants, including one from the Washington State Department of Commerce. The land was donated by the Renton Housing Authority, and the city waived several development and impact fees for the project.

The homes are intended for ownership at a set price point, meaning families can use their home to build wealth, avoid displacement and transition to a more stable standard of living. When they move on and sell their home, the new homeowners can expect a similar set price point, keeping the homes affordable to the community at large.

Mark Gropper, Renton Housing Authority’s executive director recognizes the benefit for the Sunset neighborhood. “It creates an additional form of stable housing in an area that is in transition,” he said. Pavone added, “Affordable homeownership really is life changing, creating opportunity and stability.”

Judges highlighted this work as a model for others looking to maximize local partners to address complex community issues like housing stability, affordability and even environmental justice. It took the combined efforts of all those involved to make it work, making it a prime example of a smart partnership in Washington state.

The partnership they created to accomplish this task has already led to a phase two as they build on the success of the first project.


Governor Jay Inslee #SmartCommunity #SmartCities #GrowthManagement

More information about the 2021 Governor's Smart Communities Awards can be found here: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/news/gove...


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