This week, Shannon talks to Leah Missik, Built Green Program Manager, about our exciting upcoming Built Green Conference. There's something for everybody!

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Twenty members of the MBAKS Board of Directors and staff leadership team convened late last week for a two-day retreat at the beautiful Salish Lodge & Spa near Snoqualmie Falls.  The proceedings were facilitated by Donna Franza, Senior Consultant (Advisory Services) at NAHB, who is based in Washington, DC and has deep experience with the Association and our work.

The first day of the retreat began with creating a common understanding of the current state of the Association and of what constitutes good governance.  The team then built awareness of their individual leadership styles, and considered how those can be best leveraged to create a highly functioning Board next year.

Meet the 2025 Board!

After enjoying some evening team building and dinner, the group spent the second day discussing the MBAKS Strategic Plan, the status of its implementation and the extent to which the Association's current structure and activities align with that Plan.

All-in-all, the team left the retreat in a much better place to make home happen, carrying forward MBAKS' Belief, Purpose and Values in the coming year and beyond!

Event part of MBAKS’ ongoing engagement on HB 1110 & HB 1337 implementation

MBAKS recently hosted a Middle Housing Forum focusing on state law changes now being implemented that could transform the housing landscape in our region and state.

The March 25 learn-at-lunch style event drew nearly 100 attendees. It was designed to help MBAKS members navigate the coming changes related to middle housing and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) following the adoption of HB 1110 and HB 1337 in 2023.

Panelists included Lilith Vespier, Infill Housing Manager with the Department of Commerce; Adam Weinstein, Director of Planning & Building for the City of Kirkland; and Ryan Gillis, Founder and CEO of Gillis Real Estate. 

In case you missed it, members can find a copy of the presenters’ PowerPoint slides on our Middle Housing & ADU Resources page, which is part of the Resource Library on MBAKS Connect.

Following panel presentations, attendees also heard brief updates from a handful of other city representatives in attendance from Bellevue, Bothell, Kent, and Lynnwood. Many cities in our two counties are in the process of updating local codes to comply with the new middle housing and ADU state laws. Local jurisdictions have until June 30, 2025 to update their codes.

The forum ended with audience Q&A time. During this open discussion, some members reiterated a point Ryan Gillis made during his presentation--the importance of flexibility in local codes so that builders can better respond to market demand. Another member stressed the importance of ensuring floor area ratios and building heights are properly set so that more project types are feasible to build. 

Members also expressed concerns about affordable housing fees that some jurisdictions are adopting alongside middle housing codes, as they will create unnecessary barriers to adding more housing choices.

MBAKS Executive Director Jerry Hall closed by sharing MBAKS’ overarching suggestion for cities implementing middle housing and ADU changes – “keep it simple.” The easier and more cost-effective it is to build middle housing, the more likely it is to be built, and the more attainable it will be for those looking for a place to call home.

Thanks to all who attended the Middle Housing Forum! To keep up with our advocacy work and changes related to middle housing and ADUs, MBAKS members are encouraged to engage with our Builders Councils.