PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend City Council agreed to allocate dollars toward the development and marketing of a request for proposals for Evans Vista.

The council authorized city manager John Mauro on Monday to sign contracts totaling $151,557, per 2024 budget authority and subject to budget authority for 2025.

The money largely will go toward consultation and marketing expenses as the city collaborates with economic consultants ECOnorthwest (ECO), SCJ Alliance, Thomas Architecture Studios (TAS) and Terrapin Architecture.

Evans Vista, a city affordable housing project, is planned to be developed on 14 city-owned acres near the Rainier Street roundabout south of Sims Way. The project’s master plan was approved by the city council in November 2023.

Evans Vista is planned to contain 319 plus units. Specifications in the state grant which funded the property purchase require that at least 25 percent of the units be permanently affordable.

In addition, the city has received funding for a sewage lift on the site, also specifying requirements that at least 25 percent of the units remain permanently affordable, said Emma Bolin, the city’s director of planning and development.

In her presentation on Monday, Bolin updated the city council on staff’s efforts.

“I’m really excited about this stage of the process,” Bolin said. “If anybody was asking, ‘Did this project die?’ No, it was heads-down time that was really needed for staff to evaluate the permit application.”

With a preliminary plat application already filed with the city, TAS has recommended that the city take the next step toward finding a developer.

“Now we need that nuance of having a developer or a perspective, at least, indicating how that plat should be completed and submitted in front of the hearing examiner for a permit decision,” Bolin said. “We also need to figure out how we are going to incentivize this property, how we are going to dispose of the land, and make sure that it’s permanently affordable for at least 25 percent of the 319 units.”

Bolin said in the meeting that the project goes hand-in-hand with additional funds for a grants coordinator position, which had some funding in the 2024 budget already. Bolin said additional funding is needed to attract a qualified candidate. The position will be responsible for drafting the request for proposals (RFP) with ECO, Bolin said.

An ECO document accompanying the agenda item outlined the key tasks to be paid for by the funds requested at the meeting.

The city, TAS and ECO will begin developing a roadmap document, outlining necessary steps before the project breaks ground.

Next, ECO will work with TAS and the city to research interest and demand among developers for a project like Evans Vista. During that step, ECO will utilize connections with regional and national development firms to refine the RFP.

The three organizations will work together, incorporating feedback, to develop a marketing plan, then they will begin marketing to developers. Part of the marketing fund is set aside for Port Townsend’s Terrapin architecture, which will provide tours of the site to prospective developers.

The city will then evaluate the applications, with the support of consultants.

Bolin said she is looking forward to the application evaluation phases, wherein the city, along with consulting partners, will evaluate bids put forth by potential developers.

Part of the request also was made for a contingency phase, which might include negotiations with developers, meetings, analysis and unplanned travel fees.

Liz Revord, director of Housing Solutions Network, reaffirmed the need for more affordable housing during public comment.

“I’m so grateful to hear that this is not dead in the water,” Revord said. “We need Evans Vista to be successful, and we also need it to be the shining star for this community, to showcase how great affordable housing can be for our community.”

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Reporter Elijah Sussman can be reached by email at elijah.sussman@sequimgazette.com.