Urbanist-minded Kirkland City Council candidates discussed housing solutions at a recent forum — and none of their opponents showed.
On October 8, the Eastside Housing Equity Coalition held a housing forum, allowing candidates running for different positions on the Kirkland City Council to address how they would work to help the city meet its affordable housing goals.
Kirkland, alongside most of Washington, is facing an affordable housing crisis. As of 2022, the area median income of the city, the third-densest in Washington, stands at just over $130,000 — a level developers have mainly only built to, continuing to squeeze out low-to moderate-income families, most of whom are Black families and families of color.
The state deadline to implement recently passed middle housing law pushed municipalities across the state to enact zoning policies that encourage the development of “missing middle” housing, such as accessory dwelling units, mixed-income developments, and cottage housing, in formerly single family zones. Kirkland got a head start, passing middle housing reforms in 2020 ahead of its 2024 Comprehensive Plan update.
Only four candidates showed up to discuss Kirkland’s housing future: Kirkland Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold, incumbent Neal Black (Position 5), Kurt Dresner (running for Pos. 7), and Shilpa Prem (running for Pos. 3). The Urbanist’s elections committee endorsed Dresner and Prem in the primary, and Prem led a crowded primary field, while Dresner, challenging an incumbent, finished second.
