Seattle special election: voters approving social housing initiative

Seattle voters are deciding on one issue this February special election: an affordable housing initiative.

The measure, I-135, has approval from 53.9% of voters as of Wednesday afternoon, the second day of results.

That's up from initial results of 52.8% voting "yes" in the initial results from Tuesday night. That approval rating is enough for the measure to pass should it hold. Turnout was 21% on election night, but election officials continue to count ballots as they come in by mail.

I-135, if ultimately approve, would create a public corporation, (otherwise known as a public development authority), to build mixed-income housing.

King County has more than 15 of these public development authorities now. They mimic a government agency, but have their own board of directors and can collect their own revenue.

One public development authority exists, for example, to preserve Pike Place Market, while another operates Bellevue's Meydenbauer Convention Center.

The public development authority proposed in I-135 would develop and operate affordably priced housing. Specifically, it would build social housing which allows mixed-income tenants and is permanently affordable.

Opponents say it would bring further competition for already scarce housing dollars, when dozens of agencies are already focused on low-income housing.

The public development authority would get city of Seattle funding to get off the ground, in addition to office space and oversight from the city. The city council would have discretion to give it more funding. And, if the city were looking to get rid of land, it would need to consider the authority's needs first.

The public development authority would otherwise operate independently.

Election results will be updated each day until February 24th when the results will be certified. Results are posted here.