Othello citizens want more housing

People work in Othello and live elsewhere

OTHELLO - Othello citizens told the council Monday the city needs more housing to retain professionals and younger people in their city.

Othello City Council held a meeting to discuss the lack of housing, what is needed and what can be done to increase housing construction.

Vivian Gama said the rental she lives in is about to be sold and she can't purchase it.

"I've been looking around and there are no rentals so I'm not really sure where I'll go," she said.

Gama said she doesn't qualify for low-income housing with the Othello Housing Authority. She said most quality housing is too expensive for her.

"I see no difference today, no change than what it was in 1951 … when I first moved here," Tommie Tindell said.

He said many professionals, such as teachers who work with the Othello School District, want to live in Othello but can't find housing or can't afford housing. Instead they live in Moses Lake, Tindell added.

Gentry Quality Homes Owner Don Gentry said there is a problem finding places to build housing within the city. He said although there are about 170 acres of land zoned for residential use, most of it is not for sale and if it is for sale, it's usually too expensive.

Gentry said it costs approximately $94,000 to develop one acre of land in the city.

"We've got a port (district) now that wants to do something," he said. "Everybody's got to check their ego at the door."

Gentry said the city misunderstood what the Othello Port District is attempting to do with the 67-acre business park, which was also zoned for housing. He said the port does not build apartments, rather they can make the land available with infrastructure making it a prime area for developers to purchase the land to build housing.

At a previous meeting Port Director Mike Beardsley asked the council to provide up to $250,000 in funding for infrastructure at the business park. The council tabled the request.

Dave Sperl said each year the school district starts out with a new group of teachers. Most of the teachers are young and single and are not able to purchase a home, he said. They have enough income to rent housing but can't find anything.

Instead the teachers live in Moses Lake, Sperl said. Their location results in them not spending their money in Othello and eventually they find employment at the Moses Lake School District, he said.

Othello Housing Authority Director Alan Hanks said an assessment of housing needs must be completed. If they don't know there is a market for housing, they won't build, he said.

Hanks said the assessment should include information concerning how many rentals are in the city, how many are empty and determine the income range of people living in the city.

There are approximately 150 families on the waiting list to move into low-income housing, he added.

Beardsley said the most critical housing need is for apartments.

He said he meets with people interested in building housing but does not have the information they seek on the housing market. Beardsley said a needs assessment study would provide it.

Former councilmember Dale Wyman agreed that a needs assessment study must be done. He said he has concerns about the city getting involved with providing infrastructure to the port's business park because it is partially zoned for residential use.

Wyman cited a state law indicating the port has the authority to develop land for industrial and commercial use.

"It doesn't say anything about housing," he said.

Wyman suggested researching the topic further to ensure the city doesn't get in trouble with the state auditor.

Mayor Shannon McKay said he agreed with the citizens who spoke about housing needs.

He said the city is obligated to begin developing and replacing infrastructure along South Broadway Avenue. The proposed infrastructure will lead up to the port's business park and possibly alleviate their infrastructure needs.

"This is not a brawl, it's not a fist fight," McKay said.

He said the city will work with the port and Adams County to alleviate housing needs. McKay directed City Administrator Ehman Sheldon to investigate what information the needs assessment provides and what it will cost.