May 19, 2016
The Low Income Housing Institute invites you to the
Groundbreaking Ceremony for:
 
Billy Frank Jr. Place
43 affordable apartments in downtown Olympia
Rendering by Bumgardner

Friday May 27th, 2016, 10:30 AM

The Low Income Housing Institute invites you to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for Billy Frank Jr. Place on Friday, May 27th at 10:30am at 318 State Avenue NE, Olympia.

The building is named in honor of Native American environmental leader and treaty rights activist Billy Frank Jr., known for his grassroots campaign for tribal fishing rights in Washington.  He was a member of the Nisqually Tribe. Frank was chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission for 25 years until his passing in 2014. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

Billy Frank Jr. Place will provide 43 units of affordable housing for low-income Olympia residents in a new, Evergreen 4-story building in downtown Olympia. The project will serve formerly homeless veterans and young adults, disabled individuals, and other members of the Olympia community. 

Speakers at the ground breaking include: Congressman Denny Heck, Willie Frank the son of Billy Frank Jr, House Speaker Frank Chopp, Rep. Sam Hunt, Olympia Mayor Cheryl Selby, Bryan McDonald of Heritage Bank, Corina Grigoras of State Department of Commerce and LIHI Executive Director Sharon Lee.

Set to open in spring 2017, the project is just a block from the Olympia Transit Center, near parks, schools, shopping, jobs, the Olympia Center, and the city's vibrant waterfront. Billy Frank Jr. Place will include amenities and services to help tenants to become more self-sufficient. The building includes a group kitchen, computer lab, outdoor seating and gardening areas, and onsite case managers. LIHI partners with service providers, including the Veterans Administration, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, and Community Youth Services.

Bumgardner Architects designed the project and Pavilion Construction is the general contractor.

Thanks to the City of Olympia, LIHI acquired the land at a reduced cost. The project is financed with funding from the Washington State Housing Trust Fund, HUD, Low Income Housing Tax Credits from Enterprise and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, a grant from The Employees Community Fund of Boeing, and construction financing from Heritage Bank, which is headquartered in Olympia. 

Come celebrate with us! To RSVP or for info, contact Aaron.
 
Thank you to our groundbreaking event sponsors: Enterprise, Heritage Bank and Pavilion Construction.
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Thank you for your support!
  
      
  
Sharon Lee
Executive Director
Low Income Housing Institute