County Housing Authority acquires Tumwater Inn for senior housing

Housing Authority of Thurston County (HATC) has acquired Tumwater Inn & Suites, HATC Executive Director Craig Chance told the Tumwater City Council on Tuesday, July 18.

HATC plans to convert the long-term-stay budget motel at 5895 Capitol Blvd into affordable housing for seniors. The conversion of the motel would create 24 supportive housing units for seniors that are in the lower half of the median income within the area.

The motel was acquired through a $7.9 million Rapid Capital Housing Acquisition fund from the Washington State Department of Commerce. The grant required a 5% match which Tumwater is helping with.

The city is set to provide $275,000 , which would be used for the relocation of the current residents at the motel and to remediate asbestos, lead, and mold in the property. The city council authorized signing an interlocal agreement with HATC in this week’s meeting formalizing this partnership.

HATC Development Director Tom Rawson told the city council that they would now be working over the next few months to relocate the tenants and once this has been accomplished, would start the work to renovate the motel.

HATC Executive Director Craig Chance tells the Tumwater City Council that they have acquired Tumwater Inn and Suites.

“We're looking at about 12 months before we're able to start leasing,” Rawson said.

The motel would be renamed Sterling Pines, alluding to the target population of the housing project and referring to Pinehurst Drive which is behind the property.