The supplemental state capital budget approved by the Legislature today includes money for two important housing projects in Airway Heights and Spokane, said 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy.
The updated capital budget includes $3 million requested by Holy for the Highland Village housing project in Airway Heights. The money will help fill an unforeseen funding gap in an effort to create an additional 50 units of affordable housing.
“The greater Spokane region has a real need to create new and affordable housing options for our community members who need them, and we need to act now because rent prices continue to rise,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “I’m optimistic that the Highland Village project can significantly help our area’s housing crisis, and I’m thankful the capital budget provides critical funding to move the project closer to being finished.”
Highland Village is a collaborative initiative, primarily led by Community Frameworks and Habitat for Humanity, with plans to create both rental and homeownership options for people with lower incomes. The project’s developers are promoting the housing opportunities to residents of mobile-home parks near Fairchild Air Force Base.
Holy singled out three Community Frameworks officials – President and CEO Deb Elzinga, Development Finance Manager Chris Venne and Real Estate Development Director John Chatburn – for bringing the project to his attention and meeting with him during the legislative session to help ensure the project would be included in the capital budget that was passed today.
“Deb Elzinga, Chris Venne and John Chatburn are passionate about creating more affordable housing in our area for those who need it, and they have been absolutely committed to making sure there was funding included in the capital budget to help Highland Village become closer to reality,” said Holy.
Other 6th District projects funded in the capital budget include:
- St. Agnes House in Spokane ($1.5 million)
- Eastern State Hospital emergency electrical system upgrade ($1.45 million)
- South Area commercial sewer infrastructure extension in Airway Heights ($300,000)
- West Plains Childcare Center in Airway Heights ($191,000)
- Department of Corrections projects at Airway Heights Corrections Center ($1.8 million)
Senate and House negotiators reached a final agreement on the state capital budget earlier this week. The House passed the supplemental capital budget 98-0 Tuesday night. The Senate voted 49-0 today to concur, or agree, with the amended version of the capital budget that was approved by the House.
The 2022 legislative session is scheduled to end Thursday.