Contact:
Stephanie Giralmo, Public Relations & Media Manager
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
p 425.457.7067

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MBAKS Announces 2021 Award Winners

BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 9, 2021—The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) announced the 2021 award winners at its annual year-end gala on Thursday, December 9.

Each year, MBAKS recognizes members in eight different categories: Spirit of Service, Emerging Leader, Moving the Market, Associate of the Year, Remodeler of the Year, Builder of the Year, Exceptional Service, and the MBAKS Hall of Fame Award. Winners are decided through an open member nomination and awards committee process.

Here are 2021’s winners:

Todd Levitt, Murray Franklyn Family of Companies, Bellevue, WA

Spirit of Service Award

The Spirit of Service Award recognizes an individual or company in the homebuilding industry that has demonstrated compassion and dedication through service. Volunteering time, talent, or ideas that empower or improve the quality of life of individuals, families, or groups in our community.

In 2021, Todd Levitt served as MBAKS President, where he made service his annual theme. In addition to his service to our industry, Todd also volunteers in the community, working with the Boy Scouts of America, Doxa Housing, and MBAKS’ Rampathon and Painting a Better Tomorrow community events.

Cameron Kartak, AAA Kartak Co., Everett, WA

Emerging Leader Award

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes up-and-coming members who have made significant contributions to MBAKS and the homebuilding industry. In addition, they demonstrate tremendous potential for future leadership and service.

Cameron Kartak has mentored members of both MBAKS and staff at his family-owned business. He has served as Membership Council Chair, Associate Director at Large on the MBAKS Board of Directors, and Finance Committee member.

Joe Schwab, Uniplex Construction, Redmond, WA

Joseph Irons, Irons Brothers Construction, Shoreline, WA

Exceptional Service Award

The Exceptional Service award is the highest recognition award for members and staff for their many years of professional leadership and/or exemplary service to MBAKS.

Joe Schwab, who served as MBAKS President in 2008, has always been incredibly committed to the success of MBAKS and all our members. He has shown the same dedication while advancing our industry’s priorities on state and national levels, providing a stable, consistent voice for homebuilding during good times and bad.

Joseph Irons, who served as MBAKS President in 2016, has always had a passion for giving back to the community. As a past chair of the Rampathon Committee, he developed and designed many of the standards and processes members use to build ramps today. Irons Brothers Construction has been building Rampathon ramps for neighbors in need since 2005.

Melissa Irons, Irons Brothers Construction, Shoreline, WA

Sandy McAdams | PWB Woman of the Year

Named after past MBAKS president, Sandy McAdams, who was the first woman president of our association, the recipient of this award is selected by their peers. It honors an individual who exemplifies excellence and commitment to making a difference.

Melissa Irons has been an active member of MBAKS and its councils for more than a decade, along with volunteering for leadership roles within those councils. She has been a proactive volunteer in MBAKS community stewardship programs for several years, participating in Rampathon and Painting a Better Tomorrow.

Evergreen Certified, Seattle, WA

Moving the Market Award, Built Green

The Moving the Market Award recognizes a person, business, or government entity that has taken actions or implemented programs that advance and expand Built Green certification, promote Built Green as a brand, and demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship.

For more than a decade, Evergreen Certified has worked with dozens of MBAKS builder members to help remove barriers that would prevent them from reaching for more sustainable practices. The company has verified hundreds of units and their projects have won both local and national awards.

Luellen Smith, Rhino Wine Cellars and Cooling Systems, Issaquah, WA

2021 Associate of the Year

The Associate of the Year award is dedicated to non-builder MBAKS members who have made an impact on the association and its work.

Luellen Smith has a long and accomplished tenure on the MBAKS Board of Directors, she has served as Secretary of the Finance Committee, and chaired the Membership Council, Membership Retention Committee, the REX/T-REX Awards, and Professional Women in Building Council.

Jennifer VanderBeken, VanderBeken Remodel, Marysville, WA

2021 Remodeler of the Year

The Remodeler of the Year award is presented to leaders in the remodeling industry, who display an exemplary talent in their work.

Jennifer VanderBeken’s artistry and skill as a remodeler have earned her numerous accolades, including two REX/T-REX Remodeling Excellence Awards in 2016 and 2020. She has also taken home the BIAW Excellence in Remodeling Award in 2019, 2020, and 2021, the National Chrysalis Award in 2018, and Best of Houzz Service Award.

Brian Holtzclaw, Village Life Homes LLC, Lynnwood, WA

2021 Builder of the Year

The Builder of the Year award doesn’t just go to members with exceptional building capabilities, but to those members who go beyond and are leaders within the industry.

Brian Holtzclaw, served as MBAKS President in 2020, works as legal counsel for Village Life, and represents the great citizens of Mill Creek as Mayor. When the State shut down in March 2020, he lobbied relentlessly alongside MBAKS and BIAW to convince Governor Inslee to reopen the construction industry. As a result, construction was the first major industry to get back to work in May 2020. Brian has had a distinguished career touching on every aspect of homebuilding.

Brian Ross, Oakpointe, Bellevue, WA

MBAKS Hall of Fame

The purpose of the MBAKS Hall of Fame award is to honor people who have made significant and lasting contributions to our association.

Throughout Brian Ross’ time at MBAKS, he has been a tireless supporter of sound housing policy and Government Affairs’ efforts to advance it. He remains active on the Affordable Housing Council board and his dedication and service to MBAKS is matched by his highly attuned business sense when it comes to housing and development.

For more information on this release, contact Stephanie Giralmo at sgiralmo@mbaks.com

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) is the nation’s oldest and largest local homebuilders’ association. Like our founders, our members continue to take a leading role in all facets of homebuilding and support the planning for a growing region. From new technology to advances in sustainability, from collaborative public policy efforts to investing in our communities, our commitment to a thriving, inclusive and well-planned region never wavers. We are the professional homebuilders, architects, remodelers, tradespeople (carpenters, framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians), planners and engineers, suppliers, manufacturers, and sales and marketing professionals in your community who believe everyone deserves access to a healthy and productive place to call home.

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Homing in on Our Region's Housing Statistics

Though not quite a record low, housing supply is still far from healthy in the Puget Sound region. Year over year, months of supply dropped 42% to 0.57 and 27% to 0.36 in King and Snohomish counties, respectively.

The East of Lake Sammamish MLS map area had the lowest months of inventory for King County, at 0.16; Belltown/Downtown had the highest, at 2.41. King County condo supply was higher, at 0.94 months of supply, than single-family housing supply, at 0.47.

The Southwest Snohomish County MLS map area had the lowest months of inventory for Snohomish County, at 0.25, and Northeast Snohomish County had the highest, at 0.49. Snohomish County condo supply was lower, at 0.24 months of supply, than single-family housing supply, at 0.39. 

Please contact data@mbaks.com with questions or feedback. We want to know what data would be useful to you!

Months' Supply of Housing Inventory

As of October 2021

	King County had 0.57 months' supply of inventory (down from 0.99 months' of inventory a year ago).
	Snohomish County had 0.36 months' supply of inventory (down from 0.49 a year ago).

Many industry analysts consider a four-to-six-month level as an indicator of a healthy market.

Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service

Median Home Price

October 2021

	The median price of single-family homes and condos was $750,000 in King County and $664,950 in Snohomish County.
	For single-family homes only, the median price in King County rose 10.64%, from $745,000 a year ago to $824,270. The median price in Snohomish County rose 19.83%, from $579,972 to $695,000.
	In Seattle, the median price of single-family homes and condos was $790,000. The median price for single-family homes only was $850,000, a 6.25% increase from $800,000 in October 2020.

Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service

Building Permit Activity

Jobs

	The seasonally adjusted Washington unemployment rate for October 2021 is 5.0%; for Seattle/Bellevue/Everett, it is 4.9%.
	Construction employment in Washington decreased by 800 between September 2021 and October 2021. Total construction employment is 228,100 statewide and 109,600 for Seattle/Bellevue/Everett specifically.

Source: Employment Security Department: WA Employment Estimates (Seasonally Adjusted), October 2021 and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Population

The Puget Sound region's population as of April 1, 2021 was 4,330,400. Over the past year, the region added 66,200 people, as follows:

Source: Office of Financial Management

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Contact:
Stephanie Giralmo, Public Relations & Media Manager
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
p 425.457.7067

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kirkland Tree Ordinance Falls Short on Addressing Housing Crisis

MBAKS, builders and property owners appeal City’s ordinance, seeking balance between tree protection and need for more housing choices

BELLEVUE, Wash., May 18, 2022—Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) today joined eight builder/developers and property owners in filing an appeal before the Growth Management Hearings Board regarding Kirkland’s recently adopted tree protection ordinance.

On March 15, the Kirkland City Council approved the ordinance governing tree removal and replacement by a vote of 5-2. Public comments opposing the vote observed the final ordinance had abandoned a multi-year collaborative effort between City stakeholders, Kirkland residents, the Houghton Community Council (HCC), MBAKS, and individual developers. According to the comments, these key stakeholders had proposed a balanced approach for trees and growth goals, which the City jettisoned in favor of an entirely staff-drafted ordinance.

The adopted ordinance defines “landmark trees” that must be preserved by private property owners and creates a nearly total ban on their removal from private property. Under the new definitions, these “landmark trees” and “groves” are common throughout the city and are found on countless private properties. The appeal argues this action failed to meet important planning goals of the Growth Management Act (GMA), including those calling for encouraging development in urban areas, affordable housing, and timely, fair and predictable permit processing. Furthermore, the ordinance was adopted without consideration of private property rights, largely placing the burden on private property owners for achieving the city’s goal of a city-wide 40% tree canopy.

“The work to provide more housing choices takes place in a robust regulatory and planning regime that protects the environment and considers a variety of perspectives” said Interim MBAKS Executive Director Jerry Hall. He noted that “Kirkland is doing many things right under the GMA and is one of the better jurisdictions in which MBAKS members develop land and build homes. However, we are concerned that more onerous tree retention and replanting requirements in Kirkland’s tree code will significantly increase review times and construction costs, hampering new home construction at a time when more housing supply is desperately needed. This will make it increasingly difficult for the city to meet its own housing goals and provide a range of affordable housing options for current and future residents.”

MBAKS also maintains that the ordinance improperly treats single trees and small groves of trees as critical areas on par with wetlands or fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas, even though they do not qualify as critical areas or for protection under GMA rules. Nor does the ordinance rely on “best available science” or consideration of the significant tradeoffs involved with this new set of limitations. At the same time, MBAKS asserts that the city did not consider any “best available science” in requiring large buffer areas around tree protection and critical root zones, as required under the GMA for designated critical areas.

Prior to its adoption, MBAKS actively engaged with the city and others in a multi-year stakeholder process, offering input on how to support our shared goals of a vibrant tree canopy—both in the short term and many years into the future— while providing much needed housing. However, the city put the process on hold in 2019. The city then in 2021 suddenly changed course, entirely disregarding the stakeholders’ input and recommendations from 2019, and took a far different approach on tree protection with very limited opportunity for comments from stakeholders.

The HCC, along with MBAKS, were part of the stakeholder process in 2018/2019. The city did not consider the HCC’s input prior to adopting the new regulations but did provide them the right to veto the new regulations as applied to their jurisdiction. The HCC did just that and voted overwhelmingly on April 25th to veto the new regulations. The HCC and MBAKS share many of the same concerns regarding the new regulations including lack of predictability.

The GMA requires fast-growing counties and cities to plan thoughtfully for new housing, transportation, and business centers, while still protecting environmentally critical areas. Encouraging housing near job centers will reduce long commutes and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, denser housing efficiently uses our limited land supply, and these homes are more affordable and energy efficient.

MBAKS is strongly committed to environmental stewardship, which can be seen in our advocacy work for pro-density housing measures, like accessory dwelling units, fee simple townhouse codes, and state legislation facilitating middle housing and transit-oriented development. MBAKS believes trees are a vital component of our urban environment, whether thoughtfully retained or newly established in harmony with development.

“We stand as a partner in the work to address the current housing affordability crisis and support crafting a plan for maintaining the vibrant tree canopy that we all love in Kirkland,” said Jennifer Anderson, MBAKS Interim Government Affairs Director. “Unfortunately, we believe that the current adopted tree code works against rigorous planning work required by the GMA, which exists to encourage more homes near jobs and schools so that we may protect our most pristine areas and open places that make our region special.” Anderson further stated that MBAKS hopes this appeal will help clarify the authority of local jurisdictions under the GMA to regulate tree retention, particularly outside of critical areas.

MBAKS supports tree protection. However, it is sometimes necessary for homebuilders to remove trees to meet each property’s highest and best use. Trees are also often removed for safety reasons when they could result in dangerous conditions for residents. In addition, trees are often replaced at a higher rate than removal, with new trees established in locations better suited for healthy long-term growth within the developed environment, and with more diverse tree types than what was removed, ensuring a healthy tree canopy is maintained and enhanced over time.

There are numerous other state and local regulatory requirements builders must follow to ensure environmental protection, including shoreline rules, grading and drainage codes, stormwater regulations, building and energy codes, and more. The GMA challenge contends Kirkland’s ordinance upsets the delicate balance of considerations that ensure the responsible growth of our community.

For more information, please email pr@mbaks.com.

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) is the nation’s oldest and largest local homebuilders association. Like our founders, our members continue to take a leading role in all facets of homebuilding and support the planning for a growing region. From new technology to advances in sustainability, from collaborative public policy efforts to investing in our communities, our commitment to a thriving, inclusive and well-planned region never wavers. We are the professional homebuilders, architects, remodelers, tradespeople (carpenters, framers, roofers, plumbers, electricians), planners and engineers, suppliers, manufacturers, and sales and marketing professionals in your community who believe everyone deserves access to a healthy and productive place to call home.

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