Poulsbo approves first city-owned affordable housing project

Will provide 8 one-bedroom homes

By Staff report • July 19, 2024 1:30 am
City of Poulsbo courtesy image A rendering showing what the cottages could look like.
City of Poulsbo courtesy image A rendering showing what the cottages could look like.

The Poulsbo City Council at its July 17 meeting approved the budget and agreements necessary to build the first city-owned affordable housing project — the Nordic Cottages.

The project is a partnership between the city, Housing Kitsap and Gateway Fellowship, per a city news release. It will be built on city property at 609 NE Lincoln. The cottages, once built, will provide eight one-bedroom homes for low-income older adults and adults with disabilities. Groundbreaking is expected in late 2024 and completion in late 2025.

“This has been a work in progress for many years,” Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson said. “It reflects our vision, here in Poulsbo, to build small-scale, attractive affordable housing that incorporates into neighborhoods and enhances them as well. This also reflects our interest in city-owned housing on city-owned land that will stay permanently affordable.”

“Housing Kitsap is very excited about this partnership and this groundbreaking project,” Housing Kitsap director Heather Blough said. “This will be the only project in our portfolio that is owned by a city and managed by Housing Kitsap. The award of project based vouchers attached to the units will provide deep affordability for many years to come. We are able to leverage our expertise as a housing authority with the city’s expertise in engineering, building, permitting—and benefit from their connections to partners and volunteers that will make this a true community initiative.”

The city’s Housing, Health and Human Services director Kim Hendrickson said interest in the project is high and many people have called to request a spot on the waiting list. A waiting list for the new homes will not be created for several months, but people who would like to be put on an information list for updates and announcements about the project can contact Hendrickson at kimberlyh@cityofpoulsbo.com.

The Nordic Cottage design was created by Coates Design, a Bainbridge Island-based architectural firm. Construction will be done by the BJC Group of Port Orchard. Parking will be provided on the abutting Gateway Fellowship property. The project budget is $3.9 million, with funds from the city’s local affordable housing tax, Department of Commerce, and Kitsap County HOME funding, per the release.