Resolution 7048 - Laserfiche WebLink

01/ RESOLUTION NO. 7048 A RESOLUTION designating certain real property located near the intersection of Berkshire Drive and Evergreen Way as the preferred alternative for development of a 70- unit supportive housing facility WHEREAS, A. To address Everett's street level social issues, including homelessness, addiction, and mental illness, the Community Streets Initiative developed a broad range of recommendations for community action. B. One of the priority recommendation of the Community Streets Initiative Taskforce is expanded use of"housing first" as an evidence based best practice for addressing chronic homelessness. C. The City's Safe Streets Plan is based on the recommendations of the Community Streets Initiative. A key element of the Safe Streets Plan is creation of supportive housing for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness. A supportive housing facility will meet a critical need in our community by providing access to housing for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, who are often individuals using more expensive and less effective services such as the jail or emergency room to meet basic needs of shelter. D. The City has undertaken a number of preliminary steps to develop a proposed supportive housing project that is sufficiently definite to conduct environmental review required by the State Environmental Policy Act(SEPA). These preliminary steps include screening a number of properties as potential locations for the project. Criteria used to screen potential locations include property size and feasibility to accommodate 70 units of supportive housing, availability of the property within a time frame consistent with funding opportunities,proximity to amenities such as transit, grocery stores, and services, land use compatibility, and cost relative to number of units that could be built. Properties evaluated and determined not be feasible are shown in attachment A. E. As a result of this screening process, the City identified a location on property currently owned by the City containing Reservoir 3, near the intersection of Berkshire Drive and Evergreen Way, as shown in Exhibit B to this resolution. This location is referred to as the "Evergreen Way Property" in this resolution. The Evergreen Way Property is situated in proximity to public transit, grocery stores, and other amenities that are important for individuals transitioning from living outdoors to being part of a community through supportive housing. 1