PRESS RELEASE - City of Port Townsend Announces Further Public Engagement on the Evans Vista Housing Development Master Plan

PORT TOWNSEND - The City of Port Townsend is thrilled to announce the continuation of public engagement for the Evans Vista Housing Development Master Plan. The City invites the community to participate and share their valuable insights as the project progresses, offering a fun opportunity to shape the future of our new neighborhood. With a focus on conceptual site plan renderings and preliminary financial pro forma, the City is dedicated to creating an inclusive and sustainable community.

This initiative links directly to the recent findings of the Financial Sustainability Task Force in their report to City Council earlier this month which, among other findings, concludes that efficient urban form drives both greater affordability and greater financial sustainability.

The City’s project team, consisting of the Department of Planning & Community Development, Department of Public Works and Thomas Architecture Studios (TAS) along with a consortium of consultants including Terrapin Architecture, SCJ Alliance, Landau Associates and ECONorthwest is committed to incorporating diverse perspectives into the planning process.

The next engagement opportunities include a discussion on the plan's financial feasibility on Wednesday, July 19 in front of the Planning Commission at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The meeting will also unveil findings from the community survey, which received over 300 responses. The survey, conducted in May and reopened for additional input in July and July, focused on housing needs, amenity interests, and demographics.

On Thursday, July 20, visit the City Evans Vista booth at Concerts on the Dock to explore poster boards showing site plan alternatives and early financial key points, such as amount of subsidy required, Area Median Income (AMI) levels and the resulting affordability in terms of rent or mortgage within the City. There will be a virtual Zoom workshop on Thursday, July 27 in the evening for those who cannot attend in-person activities. Visit the project website for details and to access the Zoom link.