Dear Friends:
As you all know, THA has leased a portion of its property at 60th and McKinley to the City for its use as a temporary tiny house village for persons
coming from homelessness. LIHI is managing the village for the City. I attach a copy of the lease between THA and the City. The lease ends at the end of 2021.
I write to ask us to look ahead to the end of the lease. Section 8 of the lease states what the City must do if it wishes to extend the lease beyond the end
of the year:
8. The City may use the Property for a Village until midnight December 31, 2021 (“Termination Date”). The Termination Date is firm. It can be extended only with THA’s
written agreement, which THA may grant or decline in its sole discretion. If the City wishes to extend this Agreement, it will submit its written request for an extension to THA at least 90 days before the Termination Date. The request will specify the (i)
new proposed Terminate Date, (ii) the reasons for it, and (iii) the community consultation about the proposed extension that the City undertook or plans to undertake, and what the City learned in that consultation.
The City needs to determine if it wishes to extend its use of the property. Whether THA will allow the extension will depend on several factors, in addition
to those the contract lists.
● THA’s development schedule for the community we plan to build
on the site is starting to clarify. Presently, we can anticipate that our development schedule for the property would likely allow the City to continue its use of the property until the end of 2022. This schedule may change.
● THA will carefully consider the content and quality of the
City’s consultation with the neighborhood about the extension. We would like to know what the neighbors think. In particular, we ask that you consult with Mr. Stephen Hagberg. He is a neighbor to the site. Stephen has been a very thoughtful and astute
participate in this important civic discussion with concerns for all interests at play – the neighborhood, the city, and the homeless households.
● THA will also carefully consider the quality of LIHI’s management. We understand LIHI has been doing a very
good job!
● Another factor will be the need for the site’s continued
use as a tiny house village. At the beginning of this discussion, we understood that the City would be seeking other sites to allow for a rotating use to which this site can transfer. We would like to know the progress of that effort. We also are concerned
to note that the end of the lease, if not extended, would come in the middle of the Winter. That is not a good time to displace homeless households, especially if there is no next spot.
I am not sure what the right answer is but THA asks the City to lead the discussion to a reasonable resolution. To do that, the City should
not wait too long to begin the discussions that a resolution will require.
I am leaving THA on July 5th. So I will not be able to participate further in this discussion. Vickie Stark of THA will be THA’s lead. She is
well prepared to do that.
I have enjoyed working with all of you!
Thank you.
Michael
Michael Mirra
he/him
Executive Director
Tacoma Housing Authority
902 South L Street, Tacoma, WA 98405
(253) 207-4429
(253) 651-3289 CELL
mmirra@tacomahousing.org
www.tacomahousing.net
