SENATE BILL REPORT

                           EHB 1824

  AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE, APRIL 2, 1993

Brief Description:  Authorizing conversion of surplus public property to use for affordable housing.

SPONSORS: Representatives Wolfe, Wineberry, Forner, Peery, Reams, Valle, Pruitt, Flemming, Leonard, Talcott, Anderson, J. Kohl, Thibaudeau, Jones, King, Quall, H. Myers, Cooke and Finkbeiner

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Fraser, McAuliffe, Sutherland, Vognild, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Traci Ratzliff (786‑7452)

Hearing Dates: March 31, 1993; April 2, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The ability to develop affordable housing for low-income persons is influenced by several factors.  The cost of land is often cited as a major contributor to rising housing prices.  Land costs include the costs of the raw land, any improvements on the land, and carry costs of the land before construction.

Various techniques to lower the cost of housing have been reviewed by other states and local governments.  One technique involves identifying all land suitable for construction of affordable housing.

In 1990, the Legislature directed the Department of Community Development to work on an inventory of state-owned land and buildings for possible lease as sites for affordable housing.  The Departments of Natural Resources, Transportation, and General Administration were to identify and catalog sites under their control and send a copy of the inventory to the Department of Community Development.

Proponents feel that local governments and school districts may have under-utilized land and buildings that may be suitable for the development of affordable housing.  Presently, no central register of surplus or under-utilized land, buildings, or buildings and land is available on a statewide basis.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Community Development's central register of publicly-owned property that is available for sale, lease, or exchange is expanded to include surplus and under-utilized land and buildings under the control of the Department of Social and Health Services, and Department of Corrections.

All cities, towns, counties, and school districts are required to identify and catalog surplus and under-utilized land and buildings under their control that may be suitable as sites for affordable housing.  The inventory must include the location, size, and zoning classification of the property.  The initial inventory must be sent to the Department of Community Development by November 1, 1993, with inventory revisions every November 1.

The Department of Community Development may, upon written request, provide a copy of the inventory of state-owned and publicly-owned buildings and land to parties interested in developing the sites for affordable housing.

The Department of Natural Resources is not required to provide an inventory of surplus or under-utilized land or buildings under its control unless specific funding is provided in the budget.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill is one small step towards identifying land that could be utilized for the development of affordable housing.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Wolfe, prime sponsor (pro); Mike Ryherd, Low Income Housing Congress (pro); Cynthia Sullivan, King County Council (pro); Dan Kellehen, Assn. of Cities (pro); Mike Sivia, Chair, Housing Authorities of Washington (pro)