City of Issaquah officials and affordable housing advocates celebrated a Dec. 7 in the Issaquah Highlands groundbreaking ceremony for a planned 146-unit low- and moderate income development.

YWCA Seattle-King-Snohomish CEO Sue Sherbrooke, Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger, Port Blakely Communities President Alan Boeker and several city councilmembers tied ribbons around an ornamental tree across the street from the planned YWCA Family Village at Issaquah. The project, built on 2.4 acres of land at the northeast corner of Highlands Drive NE and NE High Street, is planned as an affordable housing development of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and is targeted for completion by September 2011.

“Thsi project is reinforcing our commitment to sustainable housing,” Frisinger said.

Councilmember John Rittenhouse, a boardmember of the Eastside Human Services Forum, said the city had worked closely with Port Blakely Communities for building affordable housing in the Issaquah Highlands. He personally gave the thumbs up to the YWCA plan in 2007 when three projects were brought forward, citing YWCA’s detailed plans and public amenities, experience and fundraising power. The Family Village project is the largest affordable housing development in Issaquah and approximately 400 residents are expected to live there.

“This project means a great deal to the community,” Rittenhouse said. “It’s a partnership to provide living-wage employment with on site services to make living better for a lot of folks.”

The YWCA is also dedicating space there for family services such as parenting classes, job training, computer education and child care. Plans also call for community meeting and outdoor gathering spaces and a pedestrian bridge over Highlands Drive NE to access the King County transit hub.

YWCA head Sherbrooke said the public-private-nonprofit partnership is intended to address the growing threat of homelessness among working families in East King County and thanked the city and Port Blakely for their support. The value of the land and in-kind support provided by the city exceeds $7 million.

“Far too many Eastside families are but one medical emergency or one layoff away from being unable to pay rent, being evicted and becoming homeless,” she said. “YWCA Family Village at Issaquah will make a difference for them as well as for the Eastside workforce, economy and regional community.”

As a member of A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH), the project helps Issaquah meet obligations to provide and expand housing for residents who earn less than the resident median household income. As of 2008, the U.S. Census reported Issaquah had a median household income $81,384. The Family Village project homes will be available to families and individuals who earn up to 30 percent below median income.

The YWCA project also fits nicely into the city’s “green” image with developers promising the project would be built according to “Built Green” standards and hoped to achieve LEED Silver accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Port Blakely Communities and ARCH will provide $1.5 million to the project.

“We are proud to welcome the YWCA as neighbors to this beautiful community,” said Boeker. “One of the founding principles of Issaquah Highlands is a commitment to affordable housing and a diverse resident base.”

While much of the cost will be borne by the YWCA, the project also identified several other sources of funding, including a $4 million grant from the state’s Department of Commerce; $12.35 million in federal stimulus grants; $1 million from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; $1.5 million from King County in local housing and various local and state bond financing and tax equities worth up to $17.5 million.

The bulk of construction will occur in 2010 with families moving in the following year. Once completed, the YWCA will provide housing to a substantial portion of Eastside families who would otherwise risk becoming homeless. An RSS feed has been set up so that community members can get regular updates on the project. For more information, go to www.ywcaworks.org.