Drafter
Clerk 06/02/2017
Title
AN ORDINANCE requiring public benefits, such as affordable housing, related to the sale of real property to governmental agencies; and amending Ordinance 12045, Section 5, as amended, and K.C.C. 4.56.070 and Ordinance 12045, Section 10, as amended, and K.C.C.4.56.100 and declaring an emergency.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. King County is in the midst of a housing crisis driven by the increasing costs of housing far outpacing the growth in personal disposable incomes.
2. On May 4, 2017, the Seattle Times reported that the median home prices in the Eastside of the county was $880,000, in Seattle was $722,250, in North King County was $582,550, in Southeast King County was $410,000 and in Southeast King County was $386,500.
3. These increases represent between a 12.4 percent and 20.6 percent increases above the housing market prices from just one year before.
4. With a very robust local employment situation and a desirable region in which to live, these pressures do not seem likely to diminish in the short-run.
5. The current county code does not regularly result in county real property, which is surplus to its foreseeable needs and suitable for housing, to be used for affordable housing. While the county code surplus provisions for real property require the executive to first make available such real property for use as affordable housing, it has not resulted in a prioritization of that public benefit in the sale of the real property.
6. This ordinance will require public benefits, such as affordable housing, when the county engages in direct sales of surplus real property to another government. In addition to the county receiving compensation for the real property, in order to qualify for a direct sale, public benefits, such as affordable housing, must also be received.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Ordinance 12045, Section 5, as amended, and K.C.C. 4.56.070 are each hereby amended to read as f...
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