Seattle aims to build 500 units of supportive housing in just 16 months
The race is on for nonprofits and private companies to build 500 units of supportive housing for homeless people in Seattle by the end of 2021.
The city on Wednesday fleshed out details of the campaign, which is in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Mayor Jenny Durkan said in a news release the city is "breaking the mold" to build "an unprecedented" number of apartments in a relatively short period of time.
Project teams will use cost-efficient construction and design (CECD) methods like standardization, repetition and, in some cases, prefabrication. Seattle-based Sustainable Living Innovations (SLI), for instance, will use systems, panels and components built in Tacoma in two buildings.
SLI CEO Arlan Collins estimates building those projects using traditional construction methods would take twice as long.
A group of Seattle businesses, nonprofits and others called Third Door Coalition has been pushing for permanent supportive housing projects like these to solving chronic homelessness. Board member Paul Lambros of nonprofit Plymouth Housing called the city's $60 million investment "a big step."
https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2020/08/13/off-site-construction-will.html
