What's Developing at Andrew's Glen
SAHG is excited to publicly announce the beginning phases of our newest affordable housing project on the Eastside. In partnership with St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Factoria, SAHG will build a 40-unit property on land shared by the church on Factoria Boulevard.
This property, which will be named Andrew’s Glen, will align with SAHG’s vision to create more transitional units and services for residents. Twenty-six of the units will be set aside for veterans transitioning out of homelessness, offering the only service of this kind on the Eastside. In addition, 20 units will be specifically for supportive housing, pairing residents with case managers and coordinating specific services.
Construction on this project is set to launch in the summer of 2010 and residents will begin to move in by the winter of 2011. As the need for affordable housing grows on the Eastside, SAHG is pleased to be able to provide individuals and families with a place to call home.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall will this new building be? How many apartments will be built here?
We are proposing to build a three story apartment building above one level of underground parking with 41 apartment units, include one apartment for a live-in resident manager.
Where will this new building be located?
On the northwest corner of the site; below the existing Thrift Shop.
Will the new apartment building block views?
No, the three story building will be approximately the same height as the ridge line of the existing Thrift Shop, and screened behind the trees growing along St. Margaret’s east property line.
Who will live in the new housing?
26 of the 41 units will be for Homeless Veterans. 4 of the new units will be for other formerly homeless households, and the remaining 10 will be for other low-income families and could include Veterans with families transitioning out of homelessness.
Will the project be a magnet for homeless people already in the area?
No. The goal of this project is to provide stable, secure housing for formerly homeless people. This project will not be a shelter, and it will not be a drop-in center. This project will only serve the individuals and families living in the building and will have controlled access to limit visitors and hold visitors accountable for their behavior. The building will only house individuals and families transitioning from homelessness, not those who are currently homeless. That means caseworks and others will confirm that they are capable of and committed to living responsibly in a residential setting. Services will be offered to residents that include 24 hour staffing on site, case management, skills training and support services from over ten other agencies that are partnering with us on Andrews Glen.
What kind of screening will there be of residents?
All individuals and families will be screened to assure they are ready for independent living. All individuals must be clean and sober if they have had any past problems in this area. Persons with felonies, sex offenses or arson histories will not be allowed.
What happens if there are problems with the residents? Who do we contact?
There will be staff on site 24 hours who can also be contacted by phone. We will make those numbers available when we have them.
Who will develop and own this new housing?
St. Margaret's Church invited St. Andrew’s Housing Group to develop a portion of their campus. St. Andrew’s Housing Group will own this housing and contract for its property management.
What is St. Andrew’s Housing Group (SAHG)?
SAHG is a community based non-profit organization (501(C) (3)) that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with limited income on King County’s Eastside, empowering these families to succeed by providing housing and access to services while strengthening local communities and encouraging diversity.
Does St. Andrew's Housing Group have other properties?
Yes. St. Andrew's Housing Group has developed and now owns ten beautiful properties. These properties are located in Kirkland, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond and are all within established communities, close to good schools, services and jobs. St. Andrew's Housing Group is committed to providing housing that residents and neighbors can be proud of.
Has St. Andrew's Housing Group experienced conflicts with neighbors?
As noted above, SAHG has developed affordable and low income housing, including housing for homeless persons, in some of the nicest neighborhoods on the Eastside. These projects are usually indistinguishable from the very expensive buildings that surround them. We have a project in Klahanie, one in Talus in Issaquah, three projects in downtown Issaquah, a project near Bellevue Community college, a project just north of downtown in Kirkland, and one on Mercer Island. For the most part, neighbors are not even aware of the existence of our housing. We have few problems with neighbors.
How many people are currently living in SAHG units?
SAHG owns 325 affordable units that serve more than 800 individuals, including 347 children and 121 seniors. SAHG also provides 22 units of transitional housing for individuals transitioning out of shelter living.
Will the church lose parking spaces?
No, the existing lot is to be reconfigured to maintain the same number of spaces.
Where will those living in the apartment park?
Those who are able to own cars will park in the garage beneath the building.
Will traffic become worse?
This project should help address the congestion in this area. This project will provide the funds required for St. Margaret's Church to implement “TFP-120” of the City of Bellevue’s Transportation Improvement Program for Factoria Boulevard at Newport Way. Funds from this project will permit St. Margaret's to reconfigure the Church’s parking lot so that the entrance and exit will be relocated per the City’s direction to the northwest corner of the site and connect to the new traffic light by the fire station.
Who will pay for this housing?
A wide range of supporters, public agencies, and private banks and investors including the City of Bellevue, King County and the State of Washington.
When will construction start?
We hope to begin construction in 2010 and open our doors in early 2011.
What community outreach involvement has taken place since the inception of the project?
This project started in 2006 in part out of the neighborhood’s opposition to Tent City. Rather than provide Church land for temporary housing, members of the church looked towards how to provide high quality permanent housing on its site. In the summer of 2007, as part of the City’s comprehensive planning process, all neighbors within 500 feet of St. Margaret's were notified. On September 15 2007 St. Margaret's hosted an open House for interested neighbors and members of its congregation. In July of this year, the City posted a public notice board inviting public comment and a hearing was held on July 24, 2008.