Each year, Issaquah publishes a Housing Report Card to show its progress toward addressing key challenges of growth, an evolving housing market, affordability and vulnerable residents.
Here are some highlights:
- In 2020, 718 new housing units were completed. As Issaquah is running out of vacant land for new subdivisions, it is expected the percentage of multifamily will increase; however, because residential development will primarily be redevelopment, the rate of growth is expected to slow. Seven percent of those units were single family and 93 percent were multifamily (including eight duplex units). Although the City will continue to densify, Issaquah is taking steps to mitigate the impact of densification and to preserve existing single-family neighborhoods.
- Issaquah adopted King County’s target of 40 percent of its units affordable at 80 percent or below the Area Median Income (AMI); however, Issaquah is currently only at 4.7 percent. Forty-eight new affordable housing units are currently under construction in the Westridge development in Issaquah Highlands. The construction of a planned Transit Oriented Development would also mean and additional 175 affordable units. Issaquah also participates in the A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH) program.
- As part of its COVID-19 emergency response, the City allocated $100,000 toward rental assistance in March 2020. A total of 205 households (158 unduplicated) were assisted to help offset immediate COVID-19-related needs. In the summer of 2020, the City Council allocated (through the federal CARES Act Funds) an additional $450,000 toward food and housing security.
Action strategies moving forward:
- Remove barriers to facilitate the construction of Accessory Dwelling Units.
- Seek out affordable multifamily projects for retention as affordable housing choices for the community.
- Facilitate the development of Transit-Oriented Development.
Learn more via the full 2020 report card.