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Project Name: 100 Doors of Opportunity - Affordable Family Housing 

Project Address: 12605 Pacific Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98444 

Executive Summary: Opportunity Only Knocks If You Have A Door

American  Military Families - Action Network (USAVET.org), a non-profit with  extensive experience working with and designing services specifically  tailored to Veterans and their families, is pursuing a 9% LIHTC  allocation to finance 12605 Pacific Ave S, a new construction of 100  affordable family housing units in Tacoma, Washington. The property  contributes to USAVET.org's mission of Housing First while advancing the  readiness of American Veterans, Soldiers, Sailors, and their families.  We are committed to developing properties to bridge the gap in  affordable housing for veterans, active-duty service members, and their  families.  

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Pierce  County, USAVET.org provides an extensive range of treatment programs for  Veterans, Active-Duty service members, and their families. The program  enjoys a substantial rate of success with assisting Veteran's  transitioning back into society after service. USAVET.org has been  engaged in the Pierce Country Veterans community, standing solidly  together with over 40 other veteran service organizations, all with the  attributes of Service above Self while supporting those veterans,  active-duty members, and their families in the county.

Veterans  often face daunting challenges as they move back into the community.  These challenges include finding safe and stable housing and maintaining  a healthy and chemical-free lifestyle while trying to make ends meet  financially. The project is being developed in response to the above  client's concerns and the barriers they face in securing safe and stable  housing. USAVET.org and its Housing First Advisory Board are committed  to redeveloping the property into new, affordable multi-family  apartments for veteran/service members, as well as families, located in  the Pacific Northwest community.  

Providing housing for  an array of income levels is an important key to the social and economic  fabric of the community the development will serve. With  veterans/family services at the heart of its non-profit mission,  USAVET.org will provide an on-site case manager for residents. The cost  of these ongoing services will be covered through a combination of  federal supportive services grants, financial reserves, funding from the  annual operations budget, and other community-based grants. 

USAVET.org  considers the unique challenges that Veterans/Families face when trying  to find safe affordable housing. USAVET.org is affirmatively committed  to fair housing practices with this project. 

The  1.28-acre commercially zoned parcel is located on a key transportation  corridor within a county-approved opportunity development zone. 12605  Pacific Ave S is zoned Town Center, the zoning and opportunity of  the property will offer 100 new rental apartments in a three to 5 story  elevator-served handicapped accessible building containing one and  two-bedroom units. The proposed concept includes 40 one-bedroom and 60  two-bedroom units. 10 Office Space will also be available to offer a  unique set of amenities to veterans and their families. These amenities  will be made available to tenants in a separate social services building  to be constructed on-site. The 10 commercial office spaces will include  property management services as well as social services offices to  include City/State County or Federal Administrative Services offices  that will be able to provide services directly to tenants in addition to  others from within the local community. 100% of units will be available  to tenants at or below 70% AMI, with multiple units specifically  designated to for veterans and their families using HUD/VASH Vouchers. 

12605  Pacific Ave will be constructed over a period of 18- 24 months. The  development will be designed and built to meet a minimum Gold level LEED  certification, including energy efficiency measures related to current  environmental standards. 

The project is located in Pierce  County, Washington State, which promotes electric vehicle usage and  access to transit options. There will be 75 parking spaces, which puts  the parking ratio at .75 spaces per unit. 5 electric vehicle charging  stations will also be available on-site. The parking ratio is within the  range of similar projects in the area and is suitable for the residents  who would occupy this type of building. Adjustments to minimum parking  requirements in Pierce County include alternative options to adjust  minimum requirements based on location to transit, bike route, or city  trails. The nearest bus stop is 300 feet from the site, with routes to  downtown Tacoma, as well as, Seattle, including the University of  Washington, Tacoma campus, which both provide connections to travel to  the Seattle metro area, including routes traveling throughout the  Pacific Northwest region of the country. 

USAVET.org has  extensive history, knowledge, and expertise in providing case management  supports to Veterans, Active Duty, and their family members. USAVET.org  will provide on-site case management support that will be available  upon request to each tenant. 

Veterans and their Families  will enjoy many first-class amenities, including air-conditioning,  high-speed Wi-Fi internet access, centralized storage units, limited  access entries with on-site security. Interior community amenities will  be centralized on the first floor of a separate building that will  include a large community room with an entertainment kitchen and pantry.  On-site property management will be provided, with maintenance support.  Additional community amenity spaces will include a bike storage/fix-it  room, outdoor patio/picnic area, fitness room, laundry facility, and  food pantry.