Evans Vista Neighborhood Master Plan

Evans Vista Development Solicitation Interested Parties

The City of Port Townsend, Washington, is soliciting qualified development teams to express interest in partnering with the City to develop the Evans Vista Neighborhood, a City-owned, approximately 14-acre site located near the Rainier Street roundabout along Sims Way. The project is intended to deliver a new mixed-income, mixed-housing neighborhood that advances the City’s long-term affordable and workforce housing goals. 

The City is conducting a two-round development solicitation process. The first round consists of this Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI), which is intended as a high-level, nonbinding, market-sounding process. In the RFEI stage, respondents are asked to submit qualifications, relevant experience, and a conceptual development approach. Detailed designs, fully engineered plans, and finalized financing commitments are not required at this stage. 

Following evaluation of RFEI responses, the City anticipates shortlisting one or more development teams to proceed to the second round, which will be issued as a Request for Proposals (RFP). The RFP will invite more detailed and refined proposals from the shortlisted teams, including site planning concepts, phasing strategies, affordability commitments, and high-level financial feasibility. Selection through the RFEI does not constitute project award, nor does it obligate the City to convey property or enter into a development agreement. 

The City seeks development partners with demonstrated experience in affordable and mixed-income housing, capacity to deliver phased projects, and the ability to work collaboratively with the City to meet applicable public funding requirements, long-term affordability obligations, and community goals. At a minimum, the project will require that at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total residential units be restricted to households earning eighty percent (80%) of area median income or below for a minimum of twenty-five (25) years, consistent with state grant requirements. 

The RFEI is scheduled to be issued on or about May 1, 2026. Responses to the RFEI are due no later than May 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Tentative dates for a site visit, question-and-answer session, shortlist selection, and issuance of the subsequent RFP are included in the solicitation document. 

Interested parties are encouraged to register for information and updates on the City of Port Townsend’s procurement webpage at https://cityofpt.us/rfps. All addenda, updates, responses to questions, and future RFP materials will be posted on the City’s website. Please submit questions via email to rmunfrada@cityofpt.us. Subject line should be: Questions for Development of the Evans Vista Neighborhood — Attn: Renata Munfrada, Housing Grants Coordinator. 

Interested Parties Register Here!

Evans Vista Development Solicitation Interested Parties Registration Form

Evans Vista Neighborhood: A Gateway Opportunity

The City of Port Townsend has acquired approximately 14 acres at Evans Vista to catalyze the creation of a vibrant, mixed-income neighborhood at one of the community’s most prominent and highly visible gateways. Located just south of the Rainier Street roundabout along Sims Way, the site occupies a strategic position within the city’s emerging commercial and residential district. Evans Vista represents a rare opportunity to shape a new neighborhood that will welcome residents and visitors alike while setting the tone for thoughtful growth at the edge of town.

The City’s vision for Evans Vista is a well-designed, mixed-use neighborhood that offers a diverse range of housing options and meaningfully expands Port Townsend’s limited supply of affordable and workforce homes. Development at Evans Vista is intended to reflect the community’s long-standing commitment to livability, sustainability, and inclusive design—balancing increased housing capacity with high aesthetic standards, environmental stewardship, and a strong sense of place.

Evans Vista is envisioned as a complete and connected neighborhood that supports residents across a broad spectrum of income levels, from extremely low-income households to moderate-income workforce earners. The site plan anticipates housing integrated with shared amenities such as community gardens, a playground, pavilions, and thoughtfully incorporated public art, all of which are designed to foster daily wellbeing, social connection, and community identity. Adjacency to schools, employment centers, transit, and active transportation routes—including regional trail connections—positions Evans Vista as a neighborhood where residents can live, work, and engage locally.

Through the development solicitation, the City seeks a qualified and experienced development team, capable of delivering a feasible, financially responsible project that advances long-term affordability goals while honoring Port Townsend’s ”funk factor.“ The City is looking for a partner that brings creativity, technical expertise, and a commitment to inclusive, sustainable neighborhood design—one that can transform Evans Vista into a welcoming, resilient community that strengthens the local economy and contributes lasting public benefit.

The City's Evans Vista Planning Efforts

Housing is one of five focus areas in the City’s Strategic Plan, calling on the City to, “establish systems to support diverse housing options with perpetual affordability.”

The City of Port Townsend has acquired 14-acres at Evans Vista to support development of a new neighborhood. Before acquisition, the City performed initial outreach to housing providers and other housing advocates to gauge interest in the property for a range of housing types and affordability. Subsequently, the City performed due diligence to determine zoning and infrastructure requirements and completed a cultural resources survey (no significant findings).

The City has obtained financial assistance for planning and development of the property. $3.1 million from the Washington State Legislature supported land acquisition and will assist with required infrastructure for development. Jefferson County has awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the City which will assist in the master planning and entitlement of the project. These ARPA funds will be used to pay for services to the firm(s) selected through this RFQ process.

Evans Vista is just south of the Rainier Street roundabout on Sims Way. The property is located inside the Rainier and Upper Sims Way Subarea and is supported by the accompanying plan adopted by City Council in 2019. The development of a mix of 100-150 housing units, at a minimum, is meant to deliver urgently-needed supply and to support affordability needs currently lacking in Port Townsend and to activate the Evans Vista neighborhood as part of the area’s emerging commercial and business environment.

Background and Vision

Diverse, quality, affordable and stable housing in Port Townsend is a critical underpinning success factor for our strong local economy, local sustainability and resilience, and our collective social well-being and quality of life.  Housing is paramount to an equitable, healthy and inclusive community, and getting it right helps sustain and strengthen Port Townsend’s unique identity with strong historical roots and a creative and intentional approach to the future. 

The Evans Vista Neighborhood can be a true forerunner in that vision, while harmonizing with the existing vision described in the Rainier Subarea Plan and helping to catalyze momentum at a regional scale. 

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. 

Read Planning and Community Development Director, Emma Bolin's, Google Review from the Future: Evans Vista 2030.

Evans Vista Project Milestones

• February 17, 2026 – Evans Vista RFEI City Council Presentation
• October 29, 2026 – Housing Solutions Network's Housing Happy Hour
• August 21, 2025 – Brewocracy Now Podcast
• August 18, 2025 – Evans Vista Update City Council Presentation
• November 20, 2023 – City Council approved the Evans Vista Master Plan.
• October 9, 2023 – Joint Planning Commission and City Council work session; final presentation to City Council and Planning Commission at City Council Chambers (6:00 p.m.).
• August 7, 2023 – City Council public meeting at City Council Chambers regarding financial analysis, outreach summary, and two design options (6:00 p.m.).
• July 27, 2023 – Public outreach virtual event via Zoom (6:00 p.m.).
• July 20, 2023 – Public outreach booth at Concerts on the Dock at City Pier (booth at 3:00 p.m.; music at 5:00 p.m.).
• July 19, 2023 – Special Planning Commission public meeting at City Council Chambers focused on financial analysis of design options.
• July 5–7, 2023 – Trash and encampment cleanup of the Evans Vista site conducted by staff.
• July 2023 – Brush mowing and civil survey completed by staff.
• June 22, 2023 – Planning Commission outreach session on Neighborhood Conceptual Site Plan; public meeting at Council Chambers (6:30 p.m.).
• May 2023 – Wetland delineation completed by staff.
• May 20, 2023 – Public engagement at the Rhody Festival Cake Picnic at Pope Marine Park (3:00 p.m.).
• April 17, 2023 – Resource and education event and cleanup kick-off with staff and community members experiencing homelessness (12:00 noon, west of the DSHS building at 2507 Evans Vista).
• February 21, 2023 – Evans Vista Master Plan kick-off presentation to City Council by staff.
• November 7, 2022 – City Council selected Thomas Architecture Studios (TAS) as the Master Plan firm.
• October 27–28, 2022 – Selected firm interviews conducted by staff.
• October 21, 2022 – Statements of Qualifications due.
• October 18, 2022 – Q&A publication released by staff.
• August 2022 – Jefferson County committed ARPA funding to the Evans Vista Master Plan.
• July 2022 – House Appropriations Committee and House supported congressionally directed spending; presidential signing anticipated.
• May–June 2022 – Evans Vista ranked top priority by Rep. Kilmer’s panel for appropriations support.
• March 2022 – Application submitted for $2.5 million in support from Congressman Kilmer’s congressionally directed spending fund.
• December 1, 2021 – Grant agreement completed and initial cultural resources survey findings provided by consultant.
• November 1, 2021 – City Council authorized a cultural resources survey for the Evans Vista property.
• October–November 2021 – Due diligence conducted by City staff to determine zoning and infrastructure requirements.
• October–November 2021 – Outreach conducted to Housing Solutions Network and housing providers to gauge interest in the property.
• September 1, 2021 – City staff presented an overview of the Evans Vista property to the City Council Infrastructure and Development Committee.
• August 2021 – City entered into a purchase and sale contract for property at the end of Evans Vista Street.
• June 2021 – City notified of receipt of approximately $3.1 million in housing and infrastructure grants supporting Evans Vista planning.

Evans Vista Proforma and Design Options

• Evans Vista Master Plan Consultant Selection Agenda Bill
• Briefing to Board of Jefferson County Commissioners: Affordable & Workforce Housing in Jefferson County: Delivering the Evans Vista Neighborhood.  
• RFQ: Questions and Answers
• Request for Qualifications: Evans Vista Housing Development
• Evans Vista Neighborhood Port Townsend Public Outreach/Planning Commission Meeting
• Evans Vista Survey Results
• Evans Vista Design Options
• Press Release
• Evans Vista Public Outreach Survey Results
• Evans Vista Financial Discussion
• Evans Vista Preferred Design Option Presentation
• Evans Vista Financial Pro Forma 10.9.2023 Presentation
• November 20th 2023 City Council Final Design and Pro Forma Presentation

Community Engagement

The City will begin public engagement with those who are currently camping on the site to connect them with safe housing opportunities in our area and seek input to co-develop a vision for the mixed-income housing to be built at this site one day. Learn more about the April 17^th outreach event here. 

Click Here to view the Press Release

Click Here to watch the Housing Video.

Recent Media Coverage

Port Townsend Leader: City Embraces Flexible Approach for Developing Evans Vista Neighborhood (25 Feb 2026)

Jefferson County Beacon: Port Townsend Council Charts Course for Mixed-Income at Evans Vista (24 Feb 2026)

Jefferson County Beacon: City Council February 17, 2026: Utilities, Roads, and Evans Vista (24 Feb 2026)

Port Townsend Leader: Council Takes Next Steps for Evans Vista Housing Project (20 Aug 2025)