Council Roundup Updates provided on Affordable Housing progress and the Multifamily Tax Exemption Program

At its recent meeting, the Bellevue City Council updated the public on the 2025 Affordable Housing Strategy, which aims to build or preserve 5,700 affordable housing units over the next decade. The strategy's development has included extensive community engagement, reaching over 450 residents and 50 organizations through various initiatives. The Council also discussed the Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) program, which encourages developers to include affordable units in new projects by providing temporary property tax reductions. Since the program's launch in 2015, it has facilitated the creation of 472 affordable rental units. The latest updates to the MFTE program will align with land use changes in the Wilburton transit-oriented development area.

Bellevue Parks & Community Services Department received reaccreditation from CAPRA, achieving a perfect score of 154 out of 154 in operational standards. This reaccreditation process is rigorous and reflects the department's dedication to quality management and community service. The draft Affordable Housing Strategy is set to be presented to the Council in January 2026.