Tumwater council closes deal to turn Tumwater Inn & Suites into affordable senior housing
Tumwater Inn & Suites, the 60-year-old in that served as an extended-stay motel for years, will soon be transformed into Sterling Pines, a 24-unit affordable housing complex for seniors.
The Tumwater City Council unanimously approved an interlocal agreement for the Housing Authority of Thurston County to purchase and take over the property at 5895 Capitol Blvd. SW on July 19.
The council set aside $275,000 of federal ARPA dollars to increase its affordable housing footprint. The funds worked as a 5% match commitment for the city to help HATC qualify for Rapid Capital Housing Acquisition funds through the Department of Commerce. In the end, HATC was awarded $7.9 million for the project, which is estimated to cost a total of nearly $8.5 million.
The Tumwater funds will be used for the mitigation of asbestos in the building, and to cover the cost of relocating those who are currently staying at the motel.
Craig Chance, executive director of HATC, said too often he hears from seniors who are struggling to afford where they live. He shared several stories of people who have been pushed out of their homes due to rent increases, and one who was unhoused for two years before securing a new place to live.
“It’s a sad fact of American life that seniors are the fastest growing demographic of people experiencing homelessness today, and often for the very first time in their lives,” Chance said.
The 24 new units at Sterling Pines will be for seniors with 30% to 50% of the area median income. Six of them will be reserved for seniors coming out of being unhoused, Chance said. At a previous meeting, Chance said the building was chosen for housing because most of the rooms are already set up as apartments.
The buildings also are in a neighborhood rich with amenities. There are clinics, healthcare providers, restaurants, grocery stores and more in walking distance. Plus there’s a bus stop right outside.
Tom Webster, housing program manager, said they will start leasing the units in about 12 months. He said there’s also a 36-unit senior housing complex planned for the near future.
This story was originally published July 21, 2023 at 5:53 PM.
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