For Immediate Release

July 26, 2000

FEDERAL GRANT WILL ASSURE
REVITALIZATION OF SALISHAN HOUSING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today approved a grant of $35 million that will assure the rehabilitation of Tacoma’s Salishan public housing community, Tacoma-area congressmen Norm Dicks and Adam Smith said Wednesday.

        The grant will result in the long-delayed redevelopment of the city’s (largest) public housing community, first constructed as cheap temporary housing for World War II defense workers.

        "This funding will help leverage nearly four times the amount in private sector funding in making the Salishan project a showcase for the HOPE VI concept," said Rep. Dicks.

        The agency’s HOPE VI program supports redevelopment and replacement of public housing, and it encourages local housing authorities to seek partnerships with private entities in order to create mixed-finance and mixed-income affordable housing, Rep. Dicks said. He and Rep. Adam Smith as well as both Washington Senators Patty Murray and Slade Gorton had supported the Tacoma Housing Authority’s grant application for HOPE IV funds this year and in previous years.

        "The large Tacoma grant represents a strong vote of confidence in the direction of the Tacoma Housing Authority under its new executive director, Peter Ansara," Rep. Dicks said.

        "The federal grant award is clear evidence that the Salishan Housing Community is on the move. Both the residents and all taxpayers should be pleased," added Rep. Smith.

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