(The Center Square) – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell signed off on legislation to expand “co-living” housing units, which studies show are cheaper to create and boost affordable housing.
Council Bill 120822 specifically allows co-living residences in all zones that allow multifamily housing; it removes design standards to add more flexibility in configuration of communal areas; and it removes parking requirements within a half a mile of major transit stops.
Co-living housing entails sleeping rooms that are independently rented and lockable. Residents at these locations share kitchen facilities and other common elements with others in the building.
These co-living housing units cost less than the market rate, normally renting for $850 to $950 a month. For comparison, the overall median rent in the city is $2,031 per month as of July 2024.
“Removing barriers to developing co-living and congregate-style residences is a commonsense way to increase housing supply and diversity in neighborhoods that have great access to jobs, transit, and other amenities,” Harrell said on Wednesday after he signed Council Bill 120822 into law.
According to a recent study from Pew Charitable Trusts and architecture firm Gensler, there are approximately 19,000 individuals in Seattle who earn between $30,000 and $50,000 per year.
According to the study, developing co-living units with monthly rents between $750 and $1,250 per month would meet the target resident’s housing budget.
The study found that the co-living model delivers affordable housing at a lower cost. The concept can deliver a co-living unit with a baseline development cost of approximately $190,000 per unit. The current cost of developing a traditional studio unit in the city of Seattle can cost over $400,000 per unit
Council Bil 120822 is the latest move by the city to boost affordable housing capacity as homelessness continues to be a significant issue facing the region. Harrell’s “One Seattle Comprehensive Plan” seeks to increase zoning capacity to more than 330,000 new housing units, which more than doubles the city’s current housing capacity.
Harrell is also sending two new pieces of legislation to the Seattle City Council’s Land Use Committee that intend to increase housing opportunities.
One bill would update Seattle’s accessory dwelling unit code to allow two of the units to be built per lot.
The other bill pursues a sales tax exemption on construction projects that convert nonresidential spaces into housing. This bill reflects changes in the state law from State Senate Bill 6175, which provides a sales and use tax incentive for existing structures.