The Herald’s editorial (“Tracking progress on campaign commitments,” page A4, Feb. 2) contains Mayor Erickson’s following statement: “Affordable housing could be more available through the construction of affordable apartments and smaller homes that would be more in reach of first-time homebuyers… We’ve got four apartment buildings [being built] in the next 18 months.”
While the above statement may be true, it is also true that the apartments being planned and ultimately constructed will be market rate and will not come close to the “affordable housing” needed in Poulsbo.
Apartment rents in the 50 percent to 60 percent of median household income and in the 30 percent to 40 percent of median income is what is needed, both of which require city, county, state and federal funding.
The question then, is what is the mayor and council doing in the way of planning to budget funds and lobby the various government agencies for their respective contributions?
What incentives will the city offer market-rate apartment builders to address this very necessary element of Poulsbo’s current and incoming citizens’ needs for housing?
These are questions in need of answers if Poulsbo is to meet the challenges of its projected growth.
Bill Effinger
Poulsbo