Non-profit housing provider South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, with the assistance of the City of Tumwater, is set to receive a $726,984 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce) to fund the construction of utility infrastructure in Tâlícn Townhomes, an affordable housing project on 73rd Avenue. Tumwater’s General Government Committee recommended to the city council a funding agreement with Commerce on Wednesday, March 8. The city council would likely approve the agreement as it is set to be scheduled as a concerned item at its March 21 meeting.
Planning Manager Brad Medrud explained that the city intends to transfer the grant to Habitat for Humanity and would simply manage the grant as well as report the project’s progress. The committee also recommended another agreement with Habitat for Humanity to the council, which would also likely be approved at the city council meeting.
According to Habitat for Humanity’s website, the housing project would be the site of 28 units of 3- and 4- bedroom townhomes, which they plan to sell at an affordable price to first-time homebuyers.
The grant, which is sourced from Commerce’s Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) and funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), would be used to construct water and sewage utilities along 73rd Avenue and Halvorsen Lane. Habitat for Humanity would also install stormwater improvements such as storm pipes, catch basins, and a stormwater infiltration gallery.
Tumwater Finance Director Troy Niemeyer said that an issue with the grant is that since the project is already underway, city staff is working to catch up from a compliance standpoint. He said the situation could possibly lead to auditing issues, but assured the committee that he would work to avoid such situations.
