CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the sale of low-income housing; requiring owners of certain multi-family rental housing to notify the Seattle Office of Housing, the Seattle Housing Authority, and tenants of the owner's proposed sale of that housing; and amending Sections 22.907.030 and 22.907.100 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, Seattle continues to experience significant economic growth that is making Seattle an attractive place to live and work; and
WHEREAS, there is a shortage of affordable rental and homeownership housing for low-income households in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, multifamily rental housing buildings being offered for sale and in which low-income households live could provide an opportunity for those households or others to purchase the buildings and preserve the buildings as affordable housing, including the opportunity to form partnerships with organizations that will preserve the buildings as long-term affordable housing through land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, and other similar strategies; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle ("City") would like owners of multifamily rental buildings to notify tenants, the City, and the Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) of the proposed sale of a building to give those prospective purchasers time to make an offer to purchase the building; and
WHEREAS, the City believes that tenants of buildings that may be sold should be notified of the possible sale because the sale of the building may result in operational and financial changes that impact the tenants; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that enactment of this ordinance will promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 22.907.030 of the Seattle Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance 124861, is amended as follows:
22.907.030 Notice of proposed sale of low-i...
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