Land Use & Housing

Attorney General Eminent Domain Task Force

As expected, the Attorney General has convened a task force to look at the issue of eminent domain. The first meeting was held on August 14. The task force includes representation from a number of stakeholders, including two city representatives: Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb and Bellevue Deputy Mayor John Chelminiak. We anticipate that the group will examine changes to the current eminent domain procedures similar to last session’s discussions surrounding HB 2016, as well as issues regarding city authority under the Community Renewal Act under RCW 35.81.

Further information about the task force is available on the Attorney General’s website at www.atg.wa.gov/page.aspx?id=17070, and comments related to the group’s proposals will be solicited through that website. AWC will continue to monitor the work of the group and has suggested some additional city attorneys and public works staff members with experience in eminent domain to help provide technical assistance to the workgroup.

House Work Session on Condo Conversions

As reported in the previous Bulletin, the House Housing Committee held an August work session on the effects of conversion of affordable apartment units to condominiums, generally referred to as condo conversions. Cities were well represented by Marty Dickinson, chair of Spokane’s Affordable Housing Task Force and Adrienne Quinn, Director of the Office of Housing for the City of Seattle. The cities’ message was that condo conversions are one factor in a much broader discussion on housing availability and affordability. Spokane, Seattle and many other cities are working to address housing availability and affordability, with conversions of affordable apartment units playing very different roles in different cities. Other panels during the work session included low-income housing advocates and realtors/developers.

Specific policy discussions focused on providing local jurisdictions with greater flexibility in addressing tenant displacement resulting from conversions of affordable apartment units.

Two general ideas discussed were discussed:

1. Providing cities with the option of requiring earlier notice of conversion to tenants being displaced; and
2. Providing cities with the option of requiring greater relocation assistance to tenants than currently allowed.

These ideas were included in HB 2014 and SB 5031 in the 2007 session and remain in play for the 2008 session.

For questions or input, please contact Tim Gugerty, timg@awcnet.org.

AWC Housing Availability and Affordability Policy Advisory Group

As noted in last month’s interim Bulletin, AWC is putting together an ad hoc group of city officials to advise AWC staff on housing matters leading into and during the 2008 session. We are in the process of assembling this group, which will likely meet in late September.

For questions or more information, please contact Tim Gugerty, timg@awcnet.org.

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