Group Proposes Affordable Housing Complex Developers Want To Put Apartments, Senior Housing On Nine Acres Near Valleyway

Developers have proposed building an affordable housing complex for families and seniors near Valleyway Avenue and Sonora Road.

National Church Residences and Whitewater Creek Inc. would like to build 120 apartments and 75 senior housing units on about nine acres in the Spokane Valley neighborhood east of Sullivan Road.

National Church Residences is a nonprofit group that has built affordable housing in 26 states and Puerto Rico. Whitewater Creek Inc. is a 15-year-old development company based in Hayden, Idaho.

Maryann Prescott, of Whitewater Creek, said the new apartments would be built using a federal program that gives developers tax incentives for investing in affordable housing projects. Whitewater Creek has been a partner in a similar development in Coeur d’Alene.

Although it is still in its preliminary planning stages, developers said the apartment buildings would be about two stories high. They would probably be rented to families and seniors who make 50 percent of the the median income in Spokane County, Prescott said.

That is less than $22,050 a year for a family of four or $15,450 for an individual, according to state housing guidelines.

Neighbors said they are concerned about the increased traffic the development would bring to their area.

At a meeting with the developers to discuss traffic concerns, neighbors said the Fred Meyer and WalMart stores have already brought a big increase in traffic to their once-quiet streets. About 15 people from the area attended the meeting.

It is already so difficult to turn onto Sullivan Road from Valleyway that most cars from the new apartments would probably use Conklin and Moore roads to reach the traffic lights on arterials at Broadway and Sprague avenues, neighbors said. That would bring too much traffic past the homes on those quiet streets, they said.

They also said they were worried because it would bring lower-income families into the neighborhood.

The developers would have to get a zone change to allow the new apartments. Right now, the area is zoned for a little more than three houses per acre (UR-3.5). It would have to be rezoned allow up to 22 houses on each acre (UR-22).

The Spokane County hearing examiner must approve the zone change request. A hearing on the change has not been scheduled because developers are still working with planners on their request. The developers must submit a traffic study and other paperwork before the file will be considered complete. Once planners determine the request is complete, a hearing will be scheduled.

Landowner Grant Person, of Tomlinson-Black Real Estate, said both developers have a good reputation and affordable housing is sorely needed in the Valley - especially for older residents.

“These folks develop very nice projects,” he said. “It will make a very attractive addition to the area.”