HomeMy WebLinkAbout040723 City of PT Anounces Evans Vista Outreach and Education Event on April 17Cityaj
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2023
Emma Bolin,
Director of Planning & Community
Development
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CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND ANNOUNCES EVANS VISTA OUTREACH AND EDUCATION EVENT ON APRIL 17
City and service providers aim to connect those experiencing homelessness to near-term services
and consider their potential future needs as the Evans Vista project is envisioned and planned
PORT TOWNSEND — The City of Port Townsend is pleased to announce an outreach and education event on
April 17th at noon to connect people experiencing homelessness with near-term services as well as future
opportunities for affordable and workforce housing located within the future Evans Vista neighborhood. The
event will be located at the Evans Vista neighborhood, which is the wooded area west of the Department of
Social and Health Services building and just southwest of the Rainier Street roundabout on Sims Way. The
event will connect people with City staff working on the housing project as well as safe housing, mental
health, and substance abuse treatment providers.
The City has received over $5 million in state, federal, and county funding to prepare the site for the
development of a mix of 100-150 affordable and workforce housing units. Multiple stakeholder groups in the
community prioritized this project to deliver urgently -needed housing supply and to activate the Evans Vista
neighborhood as part of the area's emerging commercial and business environment. Evans Vista aims to be a
place where people live, work and play — a home for young families who can walk or ride to school or
individuals who can walk to local employment in the Rainier Subarea, the Port or the Hospital; a destination
for those seeking a coffee with friends, services, or childcare; and a community asset that nests into the
existing trail and parks network for all to enjoy and be proud of. Over the next several months, the City will
work with Thomas Architecture Studios to engage the community on a Master Plan design for the
neighborhood in order for it to be constructed.
The event on April 17th, is the first phase of the City's engagement work on the new neighborhood. The focus
of this event is to provide information and resources to those currently living at the site. Free pizza and drinks
will be provided. The City will also provide a dumpster for people living at the Evans Vista site to dispose of
unneeded or unwanted items. The event is open to anyone and those interested in the event should meet
staff at the end of the cul de sac directly west of DSHS located at (2507 Evans Vista).
To ensure site occupants have access to resources and support, over the next month, service providers will
directly contact those camping in the woods. The objective is to encourage people to relocate to safe
emergency and/or transitional housing. Camping at the site is unsafe and presents sanitation challenges. It is
250 Madison Street - Suite 2. Poirt'rownseind - WA 98368 it www.cityofpt,,us
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important to share the housing development vision for a mixed income neighborhood, and therefore, service
providers will survey people experiencing homelessness, who also could live in future housing that will be
built here, on what amenities and housing types they prefer.
In May, there will be more activity to prepare for construction activities, including brush clearing, survey
work, and fencing. One of the goals of the April 17th event is to ensure that people living in the woods are
aware of and prepared for the increase in activity at the Evans Vista site. The project's success depends on
initiating this site investigation work such as surveying and critical area studies. Public tours of the future
housing site will commence after the site investigation work is complete.
"We are excited to connect with the community and offer resources to those in need while we also look to
the future to co -develop a vision for safe, affordable housing with the people living there now. This is a
housing project for all incomes and we want those currently living in unsafe situations to feel included in the
process," said Port Townsend City Manager John Mauro.
The City welcomes feedback from the community on this project and encourages everyone to stay engaged
throughout the process. "We are committed to making sure that everyone knows about the upcoming
affordable and workforce housing project in the Evans Vista neighborhood," said Planning and Community
Development Director, Emma Bolin. "We are also committed to engaging our community on our strategic
approach to housing, which includes Evans Vista, but also zoning code changes, long-range planning, housing
assessment and needs projection, streamlining of processes, and a range of creative approaches that we will
undertake and stay focused on in the coming years."
For more information about the affordable and workforce housing project in the Evans Vista neighborhood, please
contact Emma Bolin ebali n( ?cikycaF .R,u.,s; 360-390-4048 or visit the project website at
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