Imagine Housing Soft Sites Analysis
HR&A assessed an innovative affordable housing strategy for Imagine Housing in Bellevue, Washington. Our comprehensive evaluation of the C-1 zoning overlay examined how density bonuses on nonprofit, religious, and public land are functioning as tools to expand affordable housing development while preserving institutional community assets.
Following the legislative changes, Imagine Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing developer, sought to understand the C-1 overlay district’s impacts on affordable housing production in Bellevue and the potential scale of new homes if other Eastside communities adopted similar approaches. HR&A examined the zoning ordinance’s specific provisions, analyzed land ownership patterns among religious and nonprofit organizations, and assessed rental housing market conditions to identify development opportunities. Through this integrated analysis, we evaluated the overlay’s practical application and potential to scale affordable housing development in the region’s competitive real estate environment.
HR&A created development scenarios for prototypical sites and conducted financial feasibility modeling, demonstrating how other Eastside communities could adopt similar overlays to create affordable housing opportunities. We identified viable parcels and recommended strategies combining zoning benefits with innovative funding sources to maximize development potential. This work provides Imagine Housing with concrete pathways to increase affordable housing production while establishing a replicable model for policy innovation throughout the region.
Explore:
Affordable Housing Development Potential on the Eastside
Affordable Housing Development Potential in Bellevue and Eastside Communities Final Report
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