The City of Port Angeles is honored to receive the prestigious “LIVE UNITED” award for its commitment to safe and affordable housing. The award, presented by the United Way of Clallam County on April 27, highlights the City’s efforts to overcome barriers to housing development and foster more diverse and accessible housing types.
"Thank you to the United Way for recognizing the City's historic housing efforts and the work we are doing to find creative solutions to the local housing crisis,” says Deputy Mayor Navarra Carr. “The City Council’s work on housing is a team effort, which would not be successful without the dedication of City staff and our continued collaboration with nonprofits, government partners, local businesses, and City residents.”
The City is especially proud to have been nominated alongside our community partners, Peninsula Behavioral Health and Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County, both of whom play pivotal roles in supporting our community’s housing needs.
“Over the years, the City has implemented a number of bold strategies to address the housing crisis, and it's exciting to see those efforts come to fruition,” added Carr. “I look forward to continuing our work to increase housing options in Port Angeles and remain at the forefront of housing policy in the region."
The City has developed an array of trendsetting policies and programs to promote the development of diverse and accessible housing options, including the:
- First-Ever Comprehensive Building Permit Fee Waiver Program in Washington State: Permanently waives 25 different building permit fees associated with a variety of affordable, infill, and multifamily housing projects, making development easier and more affordable for residents, builders and developers.
- Permit-Ready Plans Program: Provides free, pre-designed building and engineering plans, reducing the burden of cost and time spent by residents during the plan development and permit review processes.
- Multifamily Property Tax Exemptions: Offers owners and developers exemption from property tax for a period of 8, 12, or 20 years, encouraging both the new construction and rehabilitation of multifamily housing units.
- New Improvement Community Enhancement (NICE) Grants: Invests in infrastructure projects in areas with high development or redevelopment potential, stimulating economic growth and expanding the potential tax base for Port Angeles.
- Affordable Housing Sales Tax and Use Grants: Assists with the construction, procurement, and stabilization of affordable housing and housing-related assistance programs, creating new opportunities for residents to receive sustainable housing support.
To learn more about these programs and initiatives, we invite you to visit our newly launched webpage, www.cityofpa.us/housing. For additional questions, please contact the Department of Community & Economic Development at (360) 417-4750 or ced@cityofpa.us.
Deputy Mayor Navarra Carr accepted the LIVE UNITED Safe & Affordable Housing Award on behalf of the City of Port Angeles on Saturday, April 27.