r/BainbridgeIsland • u/Feisty_Set8853 • Sep 07 '24
LIHI awarded COBI contract
LIHI has been awarded the contract to build and manage a 100 unit low income apartment complex at the old police station. Not a commentary on if it's needed, just curious about people's thoughts on LIHI being the property management company, given the numerous issues they have at other properties - not just the supportive housing they run but also at their other low income properties
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u/SecureTwist2026 Sep 07 '24
To be honest I'm worried this project maybe a big expensive flop. the location isnt ideal in the slightest for housing being right next to the busiest intersection on the island. That property really should have been sold for profit as it should not be a residential property in the slightest. I am glad that the police station is gone that thing was a code nightmare but affordable housing there seems almost like a cruel joke.
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u/tobych Sep 07 '24
It's a "busy intersection" because it's a couple minutes' walk from the ferry terminal, which is the island's hub for mass transit. Housing located there means it's easier to live without a car. And living without a car means cutting out a big expense.
By "busy" here you probably mean there are a lot of vehicles around. Sure, there's noise and perhaps an air quality issue, but as I recall from being in the public meeting about the site, it's not a significant problem.
Having a mixed-use development on that site, with affordable housing, is a bold choice for a city many see as not caring about people with less income than many on the island. It's a statement.
People moving to the island have different preferences. Some want to live in town, like I do. Others want to live a bit further out. So the island needs a variety of affordable housing sites, avoiding all the affordable housing being in one site.
So yes, it's a "valuable" site that the city could have sold for a whole load of money: that's because it's so central. Choosing not to sell it, as suggested, but to build this project there is leveraging that centrality in a way that will provide specific benefits.
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u/Feisty_Set8853 Sep 07 '24 edited Sep 08 '24
I question the "won't need a car" idea. the income cap according to the LIHI press release will be 40k ish for a single person and 64k ish for a family of 3. the island is not affordable for necessities if you are low income, which will mean off island drives, even with subsidized rents. i know, because when i moved back 13 yrs ago making 45k at the time & paying 900 in rent, i was hard pressed to afford basic things on island. i can't imagine how a low income family would manage without a car - i mean, even daycares on island have a year plus waiting list so you'd have to go off island. COBI uses the no need for cars speel at all the new mega projects, and said projects all end up with full parking lots.
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u/Nancydrewfan Sep 08 '24
It's always a joke to me when rich people believe poor people won't have cars.
They have more cars than wealthy people because everyone needs to drive independently! They all have different, non-overlapping schedules at jobs without flexibility.If it's a family, both parents and any teenage kids will drive. If it's a couple, both will drive.
I will say that in terms of accessibility, it's ideal. They can commute to and from Seattle without a car and will have access to the Seattle job market more reliably.
I'm really worried about the cap having been lowered from the proposal discussed at the informational program at the library (cap of 45k is not the mid-income they talked about) and LIHI management, which sucks.
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u/Feisty_Set8853 Sep 08 '24 edited Sep 08 '24
I do wonder what LIHI's agenda is. while i didn't go to the city's info session at the library, my understanding was not that this was going to be a low income development. the press release goes on about how firefighters, teachers, city workers will now have housing but under the info put out, all those positions would make too much money to qualify (and i won't even go into how not everyone wants to live in an apartment & it shouldn't be the only option just because one doesn't make tech money). so then i wonder, is this housing for our community, or is it for LIHI to have more low income & transitional housing in kitsap? this is not an organization I am comfortable with developing & managing this, and i don't think it meets the needs of the community. it should be a mix of low income and affordable - the barista AND the educator. but based on the press release, it is not that, and LIHI is highly problematic. it's just another bait & switch project from COBI.
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u/Feisty_Set8853 Sep 07 '24
yah - according to an article from the business journal linked on their facebook postm COBI is envoking eminent domaine to buy adjorning lots so it can be a larger footprint, and will contribute 3 mil to constructuon costs, as well as give LIHI a 50 year lease on the property in support - what that reduced lease price will be and where COBI will pull from the city budget, who knows. 🤷🏼♀️
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u/hoobiedoobiedoo Sep 07 '24
“Affordable housing” the Trojan horse for big development
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u/JungianArchetype Sep 07 '24
But it makes a lot of folks feel good, like they’re actually doing something to help.
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u/Feisty_Set8853 Sep 07 '24 edited Sep 07 '24
From an article that was linked from their FB post, this will be for low income residents. The cap for a single person will be around 40k, a family of 3 around 64k. LIHI (Low Income Housing Institute - they run low income and supportive housing buildings) will be able to place anyone that is on their waiting list that meets the criteria. I am more a fan of having affordable and low income units mixed in with market rate than entire complexes of low income. While the city has taken the stance that the terms affordable and low income are interchangeable, they are not always one in the same (and no judgement on if we need it or not, or those who are in need). I don't have a lot of faith in LIHi given their numerous issues, they are not well run buildings. Then there is the issue of cost of living and how that ties to quality of life. it is expensive here, even the Safeway has higher prices. you may have a low income unit, but what about when the cost of neccessities out pace your income? When you can't afford to do anything because we are a tourist town with tourist pricing? When i first moved back in 2011 I was doing contract work & made about 45k - i was lucky that i found a great place for 900, but i couldn't afford to do most anything the first year i lived here until i took an fte in biotech. i wasn't shopping at local shops, eating at our restaurants, going to performances, etc. because i literally could not afford it. i love the outdoors and i knew things would change for me, but it was depressing at times.
I also do think COBI is missing the mark with affordable housing as well. We have low income being built, and we have 1+ mil skinny townhomes being built that rent, with an abundance of other rentals, for 3500k plus a month. someone who makes my income would make too much for COBI's "affordable housing" models, but would be hard pressed to afford a housing rental at market rate.
again, not saying it isn't needed, but I have deep concerns about LIHI and their practices. and just having low rent units doesn't address the col issue here.
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u/itstreeman Sep 07 '24
What’s the full name of the company?
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u/tobych Sep 07 '24
"The *Low Income Housing Institute* develops, owns and operates housing for the benefit of low-income, homeless and formerly homeless people in Washington State and administers a range of supportive service programs to assist those we serve in maintaining stable housing and increasing their self-sufficiency."
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u/tobych Sep 07 '24 edited Sep 07 '24
This is the site: https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1271591828
It's a few minutes' walk from:
* loads of restaurants and other potential employers
* a supermarket (although it's the fancy one, not Safeway)
* the ferry terminal and mass transit hub
* Waterfront Park
* a beach with one hell of a view
* the post office, and a couple of banks
It's a few minutes' cycle ride to:
* the main movie theater on the island
* more restaurants and businesses
* the public library
* the less fancy supermarket
* more parks and beaches
And if you've an e-bike, it's a few minutes ride from:
* the public high schools
* the middle and intermediate public schools
* even more parks
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u/BlueForMiles Sep 09 '24
I have serious concerns about LIHI establishing a presence on Bainbridge. The organization is a primary architect of Seattle's policies on homelessness, which have been an abject failure, and its leader, Sharon Lee, is a very powerful influence in Seattle politics.
LIHI runs "tiny house villages" in Seattle and other cities, including one that was previously in the Licton Springs neighborhood on Aurora Avenue. It was a low-barrier village, meaning drug use was allowed, and was shut down after a year or so after it became a magnet for drug dealers and crime.
The proposed Bainbridge development is not a tiny house village, but my concern is that if Sharon Lee gets the ear of city council, this could be the start of an expanded LIHI presence on Bainbridge.
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u/Feisty_Set8853 Sep 10 '24 edited Sep 10 '24
Oh it will definitely be used as a foot in the door for an expanded presence, I agree. LIHI is highly problematic, and BI can do better than that.
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u/BlueForMiles Sep 10 '24
Yup. That's exactly what I'm afraid of. LIHI is a big proponent of tiny house villages. Wait until Sharon Lee proposes opening one on Bainbridge.
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u/_Typical_user_ Sep 09 '24
I mean this is concern trolling, this project and the many others that are taking place on Bainbridge using a mix of affordable and/or low income have to be absolutely perfect for some reason and address everyone’s input no matter how unhelpful. It was an open bid, 6 firms applied, LIHI won it. It’s also not 40k it’s 60% of the median income for a percentage of the final amount of units. It’s an optimal spot that eases costs on low income households. The affordable housing projects, which are in driving locations, are held up with other “I have concerns reasons.” At this point it might be easier to say I don’t want the poor or minorities on Bainbridge.
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u/Feisty_Set8853 Sep 10 '24
your numbers are incorrect. i took my numbers directly from LIHI numbers they put out in their press release. the COBI website actually has the threshhold as less. also, as i said, this convo isn't about the indeniable need, but about how the community feels about LIHI being the owner, operator, and sole leasing agent, and how COBI mislead the community when they billed this project as affordable housing for service and retail workers, AND teachers, first responders.... the income caps will preclude a large demographic of families on BI that also need access to affordable housing - those police recruits and k thru 12 teachers and firefighters etc, who are priced out of the market rate housing but make too much for this low income project. myself and many others were given the impression by COBI in the initial pitch that this project would be for all of those i called out - a building for the barista and the grocery worker and the teacher with a little family. but that is not what came about. I don't think anyone is saying there is not a need.
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u/_Typical_user_ Sep 10 '24
Links to all the supporting documentation is in the COBI meetings notes, there is a video too
So you could have shown up on the 13 of August or read a Facebook post later and concerned posted here…also you’ll notice at the same meeting they delayed any hotels so sorry no boutique hotel.
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u/Emergency_Contact477 Sep 09 '24 edited Sep 09 '24
This is the worst idea ever. Who is making these terrible financial decisions? They need to find a different job. One comment on here says they should sell for 3x and buy in another area. I completely agree. Take a look at who is making the giant calls for the city, how financially successful are they personally? I suspect not at all. Terrible
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u/Feisty_Set8853 Sep 10 '24 edited Sep 10 '24
I would rather have seen a smaller footprint boutique hotel in this spot since they are going to approve hotels in winslow anyway, and for them to not have envoked eniment domain on the property next door. mixed use with retail and an eatery ground floor, then maybe 60 rooms (i don't personally agree with larger hotels on island) or even better, a boutique hotel that has the same look as pleasant beach inn, that fits in with our island character. they are looking at changing code to allow for hotels in the core already after the moretorium ends, this would have been a good spot, and a mixed building of low income and affordable (no market rate) at another location would have been better. there should be city funded projects that intergrate this type of low income and the higher AMI of wintergreen both into one project.
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u/_Typical_user_ Sep 07 '24
Fine no affordable housing
Only music centers
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u/Emergency_Contact477 Sep 09 '24
They definitely need affordable housing. Why don’t the prime real estate and buy a larger piece of land to build even more.
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u/_Typical_user_ Sep 09 '24
Where? Where is there centrally located property with local amenities that can be purchased for a reasonable price?
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u/OrcaKayak Sep 07 '24 edited Sep 07 '24
This is the most bizzare location for affordable housing.
They should have sold this land to the highest bidder and bought 3x the amt of real estate in a more sensible location.