News Update : Mayor Bruce Harrell wants to double amount of housing units at Fort Lawton

Victor K • January 11, 2024

The Fort Lawton Project has been facing delays over the last three and a half years. Amidst the delay, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell has announced a revision in the original plan. The new plan focuses on a greater number of housing units as per the original proposal. The bill was passed approximately 4 years ago but the plan has been there for a good two decades facing several challenges and delays over the years.

 

The mayor wrote to HUD (US Housing and Urban Development) on 27 Dec outlining his new vision for the project. The initial plan was for 240 housing units but the latest proposal by the mayor outlines the number to be about 500, almost doubling the original number. This proposed change, while seeking to address Seattle's housing crisis, will necessitate additional environmental review and approval from the City Council.

The letter to HUD emphasizes that zoning optimization and per-unit cost reduction are the main factors for this proposed change. The new plan will be in line with the current socioeconomic needs of the city. However, this proposal is not an easy task as the previous proposal still has several unresolved issues. Number one is the HUD approval coupled with an already pending legal battle for the area. All these combined with the extra budgetary cost make this proposal a long shot as of now.

 

The mayor decided to change the plan because the city faced issues for many years, dealing with expensive infrastructure costs. Concerns from HUD about the project's timeline made the city rethink its choices. The mayor's choice was also influenced by a report from Heartland in October 2022. While earlier estimates suggested over $100 million in costs, Heartland's report said it could be around $30 million. This, along with potential savings from getting the land at a military discount, led Mayor Harrell to go for a bigger housing plan.

The existing 2019 plan involved housing development by the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, Catholic Housing Services, and Habitat for Humanity; creating a mix of housing solutions that include homeless housing for adults, rental spaces, affordable investment options and green space. The new proposal makes it a much denser living area with double the housing units. 

 

The new plan has a bill of $285 million attached to it along with an infrastructure cost of $56 million. The timeline is based on approvals by the city council (March 2025) & HUD (June 2025). The infrastructure work will commence by the end of 2025. However, the plan does not chalk out the date of actual construction initiation. The letter also chalks out the city's history to create affordable housing and how the new plan is directly in line with city values, culture, and tradition. The city is currently working on securing the funding for such a large project from state and federal bodies. Let's see if the plan (old or new) is ever materialized.

Effective Ways to Prevent Moisture Damage in Crawl Spaces during Seattle’s Rainy Season

By Victor K • February 2, 2025
Seattle gets its share of relentless rain around the year and especially in the rainy season. This brings about a peculiar problem to the residents of Washington State which is pre-existing moisture in crawl spaces even after regular maintenance. This often leads to the growth of mold which is not only a health hazard but also a killer for property value. Therefore, offering a niche deliverable like the prevention of moisture can be a game changer for any commercial subcontractor Seattle. Today we talk about some of the ways you can add this service to your portfolio and get better from the rest in this competitive construction market. Inspect The Existing Infrastructure The first and foremost thing a good commercial construction subcontractor Seattle will do is inspect the damage or area to be renovated. An ideal way to woo your potential clients is by giving them a free inspection as a part of your Energy-efficient winter upgrades Washington State. Moreover, you can always have a team of specialists for this task alone. A task force like a team that gains experience over time and estimates to near perfection the amount of time and funds required for the job. An accurate assessment of time and money is always liked but the customer especially when he has downtime in his own backyard. This alone can help your business grow through word of mouth and stellar testimonials. Research, Research and Research There are several steps for commercial project management Seattle to become a noted one in the community. This is where your research skills come in which range from the kind of neighborhood plagued with the mold problem or the age group looking for these services. You can do all this yourself but hiring a professional to carry out research for you is an investment that goes a long way in expanding your business and moisture prevention/remedy services. Check out some of the conversion projects here that a subcontractor can take inspiration from

How to Survive a Major Remodeling Project as a building subcontractor Washington

By Victor K • February 2, 2025
Being a freshie commercial subcontractor Seattle or a seasoned commercial construction subcontractor Seattle, both face the same challenge when working in the competitive construction industry in Seattle. Working with clients is difficult but it gets more worrisome once you are working for a general contractor. Several issues arise over time that you as a building subcontractor Washington need to navigate and come out as a profit-making company. We discuss some of the basic tactics a commercial subcontractor Seattle can employ to become successful in this competitive market. Research, Research & Research There is no going forward for a building subcontractor Washington if he or she is weak in research. Research not only helps in finding projects but also after you land the project. Research about the people or company you work for goes a long way in collaboration as well as dispute avoidance and dispute management throughout the project. You also get to be ahead of the game in ordering materials, and labor as well as fulfilling the needs of the general contractor. Research a cheat sheet that helps you complete projects without hassle and delays. 

How Commercial Construction Subcontractors Can Navigate Seattle's Competitive Market

By Victor K • January 24, 2025
Seattle’s construction industry has always been a cutthroat and unwelcoming business. If you are a young and aspiring commercial subcontractor Seattle, the roadblocks are far greater than the wheels you get on the road. Hence, you need to set a roadmap for yourself as a commercial construction subcontractor Seattle that aspires to be successful in the future. The competition means that there is a lot of opportunity in Seattle as well as Washington to become one of the top commercial building services Washington. Let us explore some of the ways you can navigate the construction landscape in Seattle. Understanding the Market Even if you have lived your whole life in Seattle, understanding the landscape as a commercial subcontractor Seattle is altogether a different ballgame. Seattle has one of the most stringent construction subcontracting services Seattle regulations in the country and not understating the ins and outs can land you in trouble. With rules and regulations changing by the day, keeping track of the developments as well as changing customer needs is the foundation you can build your commercial building services Washington on. Some of the projects that can inspire you are listed here 
More Posts

We Offer All the Services You Need in One Place! We Will Save You Time and Money!

Call Us at (206) 427-9900 Now to Get a Free Estimate or a Free Consultation for Any of Our Services!

Contact Us
Share by: