As Tacoma prepares to welcome new affordable housing options for seniors, exciting developments are underway.
This month, the city has received permitting applications for the senior housing project associated with Greater Christ Temple Church, located at 1951 S. Yakima Ave.
A proposed development includes a four-story apartment building featuring 63 affordable units designated for seniors, complete with amenity spaces and parking, as outlined in the site-development application. A total of twenty-three parking spaces are set to be developed.
An article from the News Tribune in 2022 highlighted the Greater Christ Temple Church project alongside Shiloh Baptist Church’s initiatives for affordable housing, which are approaching completion.
During that period, the leaders of both churches emphasized the importance of providing housing in light of increasing housing expenses and the effects of gentrification.
According to a recent report from a rent listing and monitoring service, rental prices in Tacoma have increased by 1.2% compared to last year, surpassing the national average trend.
Roberta Schur serves as a senior housing developer at Beacon Development Group in Seattle, where she is involved as a development consultant for the Greater Christ Temple Church initiative. Schur communicated with The News Tribune through email, stating, “Assuming all funding is received by January, construction will start at the end of June/early July” of next year.
The projected expense for the development is expected to reach $32.6 million. Expected sources of funding comprise the city and Pierce County, the Housing Trust fund, CHIP, low-income housing tax credit equity, and the Capital Magnet Fund.
Schur anticipates that construction will span 14 to 15 months, with complete occupancy projected for late 2026.
She stated in an email that units “will be affordable to individuals earning 30% and 50% of the area median income,” with 13 units set aside for those facing the threat of homelessness.
The federal calculations indicate that the median family income in Pierce County stands at $112,300.
“Common area amenities include a community room, coffee bar, library/computer lab, fitness room, common laundry, outdoor patio area,” she added, with “stunning views to the east and west.”
The initiative is a collaboration involving HumanGood Affordable Housing and Greater Christ Temple Church, and has been developing over the past few years, as stated by Pastor Prentis Johnson.
Environmental Works serves as the architect, while Walsh Construction takes on the role of general contractor.
Pastor Chavis Young shared with The News Tribune on Friday through email that the first building of Shiloh Baptist Church’s New Life Apartments, located at 815 S. 13th St. and 1206 S. I St., welcomed its first residents on October 1, while the second building is set to start occupancy on January 15, 2025.
According to New Life’s website, all currently available apartments have been filled.
Young mentioned that the waitlist for the site is “quite extensive due to the overwhelming interest from individuals wanting to reside in Shiloh New Life apartment buildings.”
He observed that the most recent tally of applicants stood at 150 for the 60 available units on the site.
Shiloh’s initiative is aimed at supporting low-income individuals, specifically those earning 30% or 50% of the area median income, rather than concentrating on senior housing.