Office of the Mayor

City of Seattle
Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor

Executive Order 2019-02: Actions to Increase Affordability and Address Residential

Displacement

An Executive Order recognizing the need to create affordable, inclusive neighborhoods and
directing City departments to develop and implement strategies to further affordability –
including affordability of low- and middle-income housing – and mitigate residential
displacement, particularly in neighborhoods with communities at high risk of displacement.

WHEREAS, the City’s recent, unprecedented growth is bringing tremendous opportunity and
prosperity to Seattle; and
WHEREAS, without thoughtful policies, deliberate planning and investment during this period of
unprecedented growth and change, we risk displacement of long-time community members;
and
WHEREAS, the City has actively been working on a series of initiatives to help address the
displacement of commercial spaces and artists; and
WHEREAS, the ongoing need for affordable housing choices has outpaced the development of
new affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, the City’s 2017 Assessment of Fair Housing affirmed that historic redlining,
discriminatory mortgage practices, and restrictive covenants significantly shaped the racial
character of Seattle neighborhoods, and economic pressures are driving displacement of
residents from their long-standing communities; and
WHEREAS, the City’s 2017 Assessment of Fair Housing details trends of displacement in Seattle,
including the distinct loss of the Black/African American population in and around the Central
District and in much of Southeast Seattle; and
WHEREAS, the Seattle 2035 Growth and Equity Analysis analyzed impacts of Seattle’s growth
and mapped displacement risk and access to opportunity using data on demographics,
amenities, development potential, and rents; and
WHEREAS, the City acknowledges that residential displacement must be considered dynamic,
analyzing data trends over time to understand populations that have been at risk or that might

Office of the Mayor | 600 Fourth Avenue, P.O. Box 94749, Seattle, WA 98124 | 206-684-4000 | seattle.gov/mayor
Executive Order 2019-02 (Actions to Increase Affordability and Address Residential Displacement)
February 20, 2019
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be at risk of future displacement, and commits to further analysis once the data from the 2020
Census becomes available; and
WHEREAS, eviction proceedings disproportionately impact women and people of color and can
cause displacement and homelessness; and
WHEREAS, the City is committed to affirmatively furthering fair housing, which includes
increasing affordable housing options, ending segregation and discrimination, and addressing
displacement; and
WHEREAS, the City’s investments in affordable rental housing and homeownership provides
economic mobility, helps low-income homeowners and renters stay in their communities, and
prevents homelessness for families and individuals; and
WHEREAS, the City makes investments in affordable rental and ownership housing in
neighborhoods across the city to provide a safe, stable home for seniors, people with
disabilities, low-wage working individuals and their families, and people experiencing
homelessness; and
WHEREAS, we have learned some of the most effective solutions to fight displacement will be
community based, which have arisen from the Equitable Development Initiative and related
efforts from the City’s response to the challenges of residential, commercial and cultural
displacement; and
WHEREAS, community organizations and members have advocated for more impactful
strategies to promote community stability in the face of displacement pressure, particularly in
high displacement risk and low access to opportunity neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, additional resources, financing tools, and other policies and programs could help
generate new affordable housing, address residential displacement and prevent eviction; and
WHEREAS, cities can be limited in some tools to address some issues, which is why the City will
continue to advocate for policies that may require state action; and

WHEREAS, ongoing community engagement, particularly with impacted communities, will

continue to shape the tools, policies and programs that the City implements to create new
affordable housing, address residential displacement and prevent eviction; and

Now, THEREFORE, I, Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor of Seattle, hereby issue the following Executive
Order:

Office of the Mayor | 600 Fourth Avenue, P.O. Box 94749, Seattle, WA 98124 | 206-684-4000 | seattle.gov/mayor
Executive Order 2019-02 (Actions to Increase Affordability and Address Residential Displacement)
February 20, 2019
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Section 1: Act with urgency to address residential displacement and increase affordability
with priority actions in 2019.

A. City-supported production and preservation of affordable housing, via programs

administered by the Office of Housing, is essential to promoting low-income and
marginalized communities’ access to opportunity and preventing residential
displacement. To sustain and enhance the effectiveness of these funding programs, the
Office of Housing shall update their Funding Policies with the following policies that will
help address residential displacement. The 2019-2020 Housing Funding Policies shall be
submitted to the City Council by April 30, 2019.

i. Community Preference Policy in high risk of displacement neighborhoods: In

collaboration with City-funded affordable housing developers, the Office of
Housing shall develop a policy that encourages housing developers to propose
and implement Community Preference in the leasing and sale of City-funded
rental and ownership housing located in high risk of displacement
neighborhoods, on a case by case basis.

The Office of Housing, with support from the Department of Neighborhoods,

Office for Civil Rights, the City Attorney’s Office and stakeholders, shall establish
guidelines that provide a legal and analytical framework for how Community
Preference can be designed in a manner consistent with local, state and federal
Fair Housing laws. The Office of Housing shall provide technical assistance to
interested City-funded affordable housing developers to design and implement
Community Preference.

ii. Homeownership on publicly owned sites: The Office of Housing shall develop
policies that encourage partnership with community-based organizations,
particularly in high displacement risk areas, and provide flexible funding amounts
to maximize homeownership on publicly owned sites.

iii. Continuation of the Acquisition and Preservation Program: The City shall develop
a policy that allows for continued financing under the Acquisition and
Preservation Program. The Office of Housing shall collaborate with the Seattle
Housing Authority (SHA) to utilize loan funds to acquire and preserve expiring
subsidized buildings and prevent displacement of low-income residents.

iv. Expand scope of home repair program to help low-income homeowners stay in
their homes: The Office of Housing shall develop a policy that expands the City’s

Office of the Mayor | 600 Fourth Avenue, P.O. Box 94749, Seattle, WA 98124 | 206-684-4000 | seattle.gov/mayor
Executive Order 2019-02 (Actions to Increase Affordability and Address Residential Displacement)
February 20, 2019
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home repair program to provide no interest loans to low-income homeowners to

improve or increase habitable space and meet the low-income household’s
needs or generate income.

B. The City shall implement Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) requirements so that
all future multi-family and commercial development contributes to affordable housing
with a goal of producing at least 6,000 homes for households at or below 60% of the
Area Median Income (AMI) by 2028. The Office of Housing and the Department of
Construction and Inspections shall monitor and report annually on MHA
implementation. The City commits to modifying elements of MHA, if necessary, based
on annual report findings, in order to achieve its goals to create new income- and rent-
restricted housing throughout the city.

i. The City shall continue to encourage the incorporation of affordable housing in

MHA projects, also known as MHA performance projects.

ii. The Office of Housing shall report to the Mayor every six months the percentage
of performance, off-site development, or payment options.

C. The Seattle Office for Civil Rights shall work with the City Attorney’s Office, the King
County Bar Association, non-profits, and property owners to recommend changes to the
Just Cause Eviction Ordinance that strengthens tenant protections in advance and
during eviction proceedings.

D. The Mayor will transmit legislation to the City Council later this year to renew the Multi-
Family Tax Exemption program in 2019 to continue its track-record of delivering income-
and rent-restricted housing for low- and middle-income households in market-rate
development.

E. The City’s Affordable Middle-Income Housing Advisory Council, created in January 2019,
shall review and recommend a suite of housing and finance strategies, including but not
limited to, investment strategies, the use of public lands, and innovative construction to
facilitate delivery of for-rent and for-sale housing affordable for Seattle’s middle-income
wage earners, helping to close the gap between housing that City subsidy can support
and what the private market is producing.

F. The City will work to leverage a new tax incentive created through the 2017 Federal Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act to harness opportunity zone capital for community- identified priority
affordable housing and commercial development in designated Opportunity Zone (OZ)
neighborhoods. These include parts of Chinatown-International District, Little Saigon,

Office of the Mayor | 600 Fourth Avenue, P.O. Box 94749, Seattle, WA 98124 | 206-684-4000 | seattle.gov/mayor
Executive Order 2019-02 (Actions to Increase Affordability and Address Residential Displacement)
February 20, 2019
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Judkins Park, Othello, Yesler Terrace, First Hill, the Central District, Rainier Beach, SODO
Industrial, Pioneer Square, and Beacon Hill.

i. The Department of Neighborhoods will carry out a robust engagement process in

these neighborhoods to identify priorities.

ii. The Mayor’s Office will generate an opportunity zone project prospectus to
share with investors that will include these priority community projects, as well
as host a convening to facilitate the creative financing of these projects.

iii. City Departments, including the Office of Housing, the Office of Economic
Development, and the Office of Planning and Community Development, will
explore the feasibility of combining different types of capital, to include Low
Income Housing Tax Credits and Historic District tax credits, to realize affordable
housing developments in these Opportunity Zones. They will also explore more
cost-effective housing types under the current Opportunity Zone tax legislation,
and explore shared ownership or lease to own models that may comport with
current Opportunity Zone legislation.

G. The City, with support from the Innovation Advisory Council, will work on a series of
affordability and housing related projects. This work includes new tools to improve
equitable access to income- and rent-restricted housing and an online information and
screening tool to connect individuals and families to City of Seattle benefit programs
and services that can lower their cost of living.

Section 2: The City shall continue to advocate for the Washington State Legislature to
increase resources and provide tools that address residential displacement and increase
affordability.

A. The City shall redouble efforts to advocate for the Washington State Legislature to
increase availability of resources to fund affordable housing, including but not limited
to, legislation that encourages investments in affordable and supportive housing,
authorizes additional Real Estate Excise Tax to fund affordable housing, and increases
the Housing Trust Fund.

B. The City shall continue to advocate to lower property tax rates for low-income seniors.

C. The City shall advocate for the Washington State Legislature to adopt statewide just
cause protections for tenants facing eviction.

Office of the Mayor | 600 Fourth Avenue, P.O. Box 94749, Seattle, WA 98124 | 206-684-4000 | seattle.gov/mayor
Executive Order 2019-02 (Actions to Increase Affordability and Address Residential Displacement)
February 20, 2019
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Section 3: Continue Efforts to Address Displacement and Gentrification Through the Equitable
Development Initiative (EDI).

A. The EDI fund, administered by the Office of Planning and Community Development
(OPCD), was created to respond to the needs of marginalized populations, reduce
disparities, and support access to opportunity in healthy, vibrant communities.
Originally created with one-time funding, this administration has proposed a permanent
funding source. The City shall offer technical assistance and continue supporting
community-initiated projects that relieve displacement pressures and invest in
community members and organizations in high displacement risk neighborhoods.

Section 4: Address residential displacement comprehensively with robust community

engagement and interdepartmental collaboration.

A. The Affordability and Livability Subcabinet, which was formed in this administration,
with specific involvement of the Office of Planning and Community Development,
the Office of Housing, the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, the
Department of Neighborhoods, the Human Services Department, and in
coordination with the Seattle Office for Civil Rights and the City Attorney’s Office, is
hereby directed to include anti-displacement efforts in their 2019 workplan. This
anti-displacement effort will look at how regulations, tenant protections, incentives
and funding can work together to increase housing affordability and to prevent and
mitigate residential displacement, and shall include the following:
i. Monitor and track residential, commercial and cultural displacement trends
in Seattle, starting with Phase I in Q1 2019 of the EDI annual monitoring
program to track equitable development outcomes and heightened risk of
displacement;
ii. Approach the work outlined in this Executive Order in coordination with
other anti-displacement efforts, including the EDI, that seek to prevent
residential, commercial, and cultural displacement;
iii. Make recommendations to the Mayor and her Executive Team about
regulations, incentives, protections and funding opportunities that can help
address residential displacement; and
iv. Design and implement innovations to City processes, practices, and policies
to address these persistent challenges.
B. Determine if additional incentives or regulations will decrease the number of
individuals displaced by development or increase the creation of housing for people
in high risk displacement areas. Building off the successful framework of inclusive

Office of the Mayor | 600 Fourth Avenue, P.O. Box 94749, Seattle, WA 98124 | 206-684-4000 | seattle.gov/mayor
Executive Order 2019-02 (Actions to Increase Affordability and Address Residential Displacement)
February 20, 2019
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community engagement developed as part of the Equitable Development Initiative

(EDI), the Department of Neighborhoods, in coordination with EDI partner
departments including the Office of Planning and Community Development, the
Office of Housing, the Office of Economic Development, the Office of Arts & Culture,
and Office for Civil Rights, shall develop and execute a plan that engages community
members to make recommendations on anti-displacement efforts in a holistic and
comprehensive way, so that the City and community can approach specific actions
to address displacement. In addition, the Subcabinet will re-evaluate its work twice
annually to address emerging issues related to gentrification and displacement. The
Affordability and Livability Subcabinet shall report to the Mayor on the status of all
elements of this Executive Order, no later than May 31, 2019 and quarterly
thereafter.

C. The President of the City Council shall be requested to designate two City Council
members to receive quarterly updates by members of the Affordability and Livability
Subcabinet.

Any questions about this Executive Order should be directed to Deputy Mayor Shefali
Ranganathan.

Dated this 20th day of February, 2019

Jenny A. Durkan
Mayor of Seattle

Office of the Mayor | 600 Fourth Avenue, P.O. Box 94749, Seattle, WA 98124 | 206-684-4000 | seattle.gov/mayor