INTRODUCTION

The King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) and Department of Executive Services (DES) is pleased to release this Request for Proposal for Brooks Village Direct Negotiation in accordance with requirements of KCC 4.56.100.A.7. King County is seeking applicants among nonprofit developers and/or Community-Based Organizations interested in developing affordable homeownership at Brooks Village in line with community-identified priorities, as detailed in Section II.B. of the full RFP to decrease Displacement pressure and increase Affordable Housing options in Skyway-West Hill.

The awarded applicant would have the opportunity to enter into direct negotiations for a contract with King County to acquire the Brooks Village property and construct onsite Affordable Housing. The resulting contract is not a guaranteed outcome for the successful applicant of this RFP and will require approval, by ordinance, of the King County Council. This RFP does not include any Predevelopment funding or commitment of future funding.

Should the successful applicant’s direct negotiation result in an agreement that includes transfer of the land, King County would transfer the land in exchange for Transaction Costs to be determined. This RFP does not guarantee a contract for development or land transfer.

Brooks Village is 14.3 acres of undeveloped land owned by King County in the Skyway-West Hill neighborhood, located at 11433 Renton Ave S., Seattle, WA 98178. A Critical Areas Study Report (Appendix B) and an initial site capacity study commissioned by the County in fall of 2021 identified four wetlands on the site and a stream along the eastern edge of the parcel. These wetlands and required setbacks leave approximately three (3) acres of buildable land. Based on an initial site capacity study, the buildable area could support an estimated 48 to 54 units of Affordable Housing, but additional analysis is necessary. 

BACKGROUND

Brooks Village is the site of a stalled homeownership project from 2000, initially intended to develop 48 homes before the subdivision approval expired. King County acquired ownership of the site in 2004. Over the years, the wetlands on the site have expanded and a 2004 critical areas ordinance increased critical area buffers, reducing the buildable area of the site. Since 2018, community residents and advocates in Skyway-West Hill have advocated for Brooks Village to be transferred to a community organization and developed for Affordable Housing. In 2019, the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) expressed interest in acquiring the site for open space conservation. In 2021, the County hosted two community meetings with Skyway residents to gather community feedback for desired outcomes for Brooks Village. Community residents shared the following priorities for development of the Brooks Village site:

• Permanently affordable homeownership units on the developable land.
• Units serving households between 50-80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI).
• Larger family sized units.
• Townhomes or a mix of townhome and stacked flat style construction.
• Adequate parking options and larger family sized units.
• Prioritization of Skyway residents (past and present) for new units to make sure this is an Anti-Displacement effort.
• Conservation of wetlands and environmentally critical areas as open space, ideally with passive recreation and trails.

Additional information about Brooks Village is included in the RFP Appendix such as site characteristics and a 2021 critical areas study, easement information, and links to recordings of the community meetings hosted by King County.

OVERVIEW

Scope of Work:  Engage in direct negotiation with King County for an agreement to transfer the land and to construct onsite Affordable Housing. Should an agreement be successfully negotiated, the ultimate transaction will require approval, by ordinance, of the King County Council.  The successful RFP applicant will be expected to obtain funding and conduct Predevelopment work, including Feasibility studies and a development plan as part of the negotiation process. This RFP does not include any Predevelopment funding or commitment of future funding.

Investment Area: The parcel of land commonly known as Brooks Village, located at 11433 Renton Ave S., Seattle, WA 98178

Focus Population: Households at or below 80 percent AMI, with a preference for households with a community connection to Skyway-West Hill applied to 40 percent of the units at initial sale.

Intended Outcomes:

• Approximately 50 new permanently affordable homeownership units serving households between 50 and 80 percent AMI levels.
• Improve a household’s ability to maintain safe, habitable housing in a community of one’s choice.
• Increased access to open space and preservation of tree canopy through conservation of undevelopable areas.
• People with connections to Skyway-West Hill will be prioritized for 40 percent of the new Affordable Housing at Brooks Village through the King County Community Preference policy in alignment with King County Code 48.070, which can be found here: https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/council/clerk/code/24-30_Title_21A.htm.

Timeline: