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At the end of June, the Spokane City Council voted to adopt some long overdue code amendments easing restrictions on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Short Plats, and lot sizes requirements. These changes come at a time in which Spokane is facing a critical housing crisis and urgent action is necessary. In fact, the Mayor’s Housing Task Force has stated, “the lack of (housing) supply has contributed to the cost of ownership and rent increasing by 50% over the last two years – an unsustainable amount for the more than half of our residents that are living in extreme poverty…
Read MoreMore than 360 members were rewarded for workplace safety and received $5,106,610 in returns at The Spokane Home Builders Association’s annual Membership BBQ on June 24. ROII stands for return on industrial insurance and it is the state’s largest, longest-operating Retro (Retrospective Rating) safety incentive program. The Retro program rewards businesses that are dedicated to workplace safety with a partial refund on their Labor and Industries insurance premium. At a time when the need for more housing units and skilled workers to build those houses is much greater than the supply, incentives like ROII are important for ending the housing…
Read MoreEvery election has an impact on your life… but the 2022 County Commissioner Races will be especially impactful. Why will County Commissioner Elections be so impactful? They will shape the future of housing and economic development in Spokane. The 2022 County Commissioner Race is not only going to impact your lives today, but will lay the foundation for what Spokane will look like for decades to come. Commissioners are responsible for the County’s administration, management, budget, planning and economic development, road and bridge improvements, the maintenance and renovation of County Assets such as public works facilities, and what…
Read MoreEight out of 10 Spokane residents can’t afford to buy a home in current market conditions. Read that sentence again. We’re in a housing crisis like never before. Home prices in Spokane rose 30% over the past year alone, hitting an all new high for the average median home price this week at $460, 000. But the recent spike in home prices is only the tip of the housing crisis iceberg; the driving forces behind housing affordability started years ago. It’s past time to take action, and that work begins by getting a clear understanding of what’s driving the crisis.…
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