The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant comes on the heels of a $1.5 million HUD grant regional planners received last year and used to start work on a blueprint for a more sustainable future.
All aspects of life in Thurston County, including public health and safety, economic growth, food and water supplies, housing and transportation are receiving a new look in light of a projected population of 422,000 by 2040, TRPC senior planner Kathy McCormick explained.
“We’re starting a major community conversation on how this community is going to grow,” she said. “It’s the first time we’ve done this since the state Growth Management Act was passed in 1990.”
The federal grant announced Monday will be used to figure out ways to increase housing and development along the urban corridor connecting Tumwater, Olympia and Lacey, including Old Highway 99, Capitol Boulevard, Capitol Way and Martin Way.
Only 5 percent of the housing built in the past 15 years has been within walking distance of the three cities’ urban corridor, McCormick noted.
“When 52 percent of the average working family’s income is devoted to housing and transportation costs alone, we know that we have a responsibility to fix that and to provide housing and transportation options that can improve their quality of life and economic stability,” HUD Secretary Shaun Donavan said in announcing 56 grant awards Monday totaling $96 million.
The earlier grant is being used to develop a new regional plan for sustainable growth. Community leaders have been meeting for months to develop white papers that spell out the challenges and opportunities growth will provide. Public review and comments are welcome, and a series of public meetings, forums and social media events is set to kick off this winter, with a final report due in 2013.
Among some of the preliminary findings from regional planning council task forces working on issue papers to frame the community conversation:
• Thurston County will need another 80,000 housing units by 2040 to add to the current inventory of 108,000 units. A shortage of senior housing looms as the projected population of those 70 and older is expected to grow by 40,000 over the next 30 years.
• Low-income housing is lagging behind the growth in low-income households, which increased by 130 percent from 1990 to 2009.
• The greatest potential for job growth in Thurston County is in the health care business sector.
• Thurston County residents generally fare well against statewide trends in public health. However, 19 percent of county residents 18 and older smoke cigarettes, compared with 15 percent statewide.
John Dodge: 360-754-5444 jdodge@theolympian.com
How to get involved
A community discussion on how Thurston County can sustainably accommodate another 170,000 people by 2040 is about to begin under the leadership of the Thurston Regional Planning Council and 29 community groups and local governments.
For information, go to www.sustainablethurston.org.
