HOUSING

Housing is a major component of the Master Plan. There is not much variety of housing types in Taholah to meet the demand of a diverse population; the housing stock is almost entirely single family 3 or 4 bedroom homes. There is a wide range of family sizes and an underserved single population. Elders have expressed a desire for more housing options, generally ones that are smaller or lower maintenance.

According to community surveys, seventy percent of homes have at least one elder resident and over 40 percent had a disabled resident or a frequent visitor. There was a desire for both smaller homes and lots and larger homes and lots for elders.  Those preferring smaller lots liked them for their low maintenance. A suggestion was made that the housing be like Skokomish senior housing, not congregate housing.  Those who wanted larger homes expressed a desire for room for privacy, fences, garages, large doorways, paved driveways, grass yards, and front and back porch ramp access. 76% of surveyed households felt that their housing was of adequate size. The most people that felt their homes were not of adequate size lived in 3 bedroom homes. Most of those who felt their homes were inadequately-sized lived in families of five or six people. Families of five or six stated that their ideal home size would be 4 to 6 bedrooms. 26% of the interviewed households were 5 or 6 people.

Over 60% of survey respondents desired a variety of lot sizes available in the new village. Slightly over half wanted a village with smaller lots and streets, sidewalks with more public space and trails. When asked “What don’t you have in the lower village that you want in the new, upper village?”, residents asked for housing for larger families and apartments for singles. When asked for a vision for the new, upper village, survey respondents foresaw “big houses for everybody”, a “community with a variety of houses”, “clean, well lit, mixed housing, planted green yards and a place where children are safe” with “nice parks and nice homes”.

Housing in the Lower Village is somewhat segregated by income. Low-income housing is concentrated in the southern portion of the Lower Village, on Cedar, Pine and Spruce Streets. In the Relocation Area, however, the neighborhoods will be mixed-income with adjacent lots allocated to the Quinault Housing Authority and others leased to market-rate owners.
In order to serve the varied needs of the community, a range of housing types and lot sizes will be developed in each phase of development. Lotting for each neighborhood will include approximately 50% 7,500 square foot lots, 30% 6,000 square foot lots and 20% 10,000 square foot lots. Additionally, multi-family housing will be dispersed throughout the four neighborhoods.

 

NEW HOME TYPES

Given the lack of variety of housing types in the existing village and the need to better serve a variety of family sizes, this Plan includes suggestions and lands set aside for housing types not currently found in Taholah. Community members in the community meetings commented on the need for small units which would not require lawn or landscape maintenance for the homeowner to house elders. Other discussions with QIN Staff and community members identified a need for housing for singles, especially those returning from college. Two housing types, cottages and accessory dwelling units, not currently found in Taholah can meet these needs.

Cottages

In this context, cottages refers to small homes, 600 square feet to 1000 square feet, on a shared property, functioning much as a condominium would. This works well in Taholah as the QIN owns the underlying land. Beautification personnel or Housing Authority maintenance staff would tend the common areas and landscaping. Cottages could be larger if a second floor were added; however, the Housing Authority has stated that its preference is for single-story, fully accessible units for the greatest flexibility in serving its clients.

 

 

Accessory Dwelling Units
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are attached or unattached dwelling units sharing a property with a primary home. ADUs, otherwise known as “granny flats” or “mother-in-law units”, can be used to provide housing for elders and singles in proximity to their extended family. Historically, Native Americans, more than other groups have cared for elderly relatives at home more than relying on assisted care facilities. The accessory dwelling units would allow elders some independence while being close to the younger generations enabling easier care for the elders or facilitating child care by older relatives. Accessory dwelling units are not currently permitted by the QIN Zoning Code. This Master Plan includes changes to the Code to allow the accessory dwelling units.

 

 

Multi-family

There are only three multi-family structures in Taholah, all along Spruce Street across from the Housing authority and a total of ten units within these buildings. Multi-family units in the Relocation Area will help satisfy the demand for housing for singles and elders and a lack of rental units. These units will likely be one story to have all rooms accessible per Housing Authority preferences, though there could be two-story units. The Place of Hidden Waters, a housing project in Tacoma by the Puyallup Tribe, is a model for multi-family housing in the new village.  The mix of apartments and townhomes serve a varied population. Place of Hidden Waters (pictured) is a sustainable project in a similar climate created in Indian country, so this shows that such a high-quality, sustainable project is achievable in Taholah.

Supportive and Transitional Housing

The relocated village will serve all segments of the community from homeowners to the homeless and those transitioning back to the community from substance abuse rehabilitation. Some families live in travel trailers for up to six months on Nation-owned lots. Those not fortunate to have secure housing or unable to maintain a home need roofs over their heads, also. Two local models, Quixote Village in Olympia and Turkey Shoot on the Lummi Reservation, serve as examples of possible housing types for the homeless or transitional populations. Quixote Village is a neighborhood of tiny homes sharing a common building with laundry, cooking and shower facilities. A simulation of a 10-unit project based on Quixote Village is shown below. Turkey Shoot incoporates a variety of housing types including four-plexes. Both models include the integration of space for service providers; the facilities in this Master Plan may do so, although the location of these facilities within the Relocation area is planned to be adjacent to social services and medical facilities, so it may be unnecessary to dedicate space for social services within the project itself.

For more information or to give feedback and suggestions to the Project Team, please contact Kelsey Moldenke, Charles Warsinske or Sue Kalama by email or at (360) 276-8211, extensions 1038, 6821, or 6824 respectively. Artwork by Doug James.