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News and Updates

Author: Aaron Hoard

Reviewed 9/22

2024-25 University Housing Assistance Program (UHAP)

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Through a partnership between the University of Washington (UW) and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, a select number of newly hired tenure-track assistant professors and early career tenured/tenure-track associate professors may qualify for assistance with their down payment when buying a home.

This program—called the University Housing Assistance Program or UHAP—is intended to support UW recruitment and retention efforts. Program participants are nominated by their dean/chancellor and selected by the provost. Through a second-mortgage loan, eligible borrowers can receive up to 10% of the home’s sale price (or $90,000, whichever is less) which reduces the amount of cash needed for a down payment.

For more information, including eligibility criteria, please contact your current or prospective dean’s/chancellor’s office.

 

2023 Annual Report on the University of Washington Master Plan, Seattle Campus

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Linked below is the fourth annual report on physical development under the University of Washington’s Seattle Campus Master Plan as approved by the Seattle City Council in February 2019. The report is structured to respond to reporting requirements found in the City University Agreement (Ordinance 121193); the ordinance approving the Campus Master Plan (Ordinance 125733); and the Conditions of Approval attached to that ordinance. This report covers January through December 2022.

2023 Annual Report

In this reporting period, the University had largely returned to normal operations after the pandemic with most students attending class in person. Many employees still have the option to telecommute several days per week.

With regard to the requirements of the annual report, two sites have been under construction by the University of Washington: C11 (Interdisciplinary Engineering Building) and IMA Pool Expansion. Two sites have been under design: W27 (multi-user building including Center for Advanced Materials and Clean Energy Technologies) and E59 (ICA Basketball Performance Center). Two projects S40 (Health Sciences Education Building) and C3 (Founders Hall) were completed during this period. The University has completed 120k square feet of its 6M allowed total. The University measured a 13% single occupancy vehicle rate, which is a decline of 5.9% since 2018. The University made its first payment under Condition 65 (Transportation Capital Improvements) and is in discussion with SDOT about paying for Condition 63 (ITS Improvements). With the selection of Bellwether Housing to develop a 244-unit mixed-income tower, the University is making progress toward its commitment to build affordable housing.

2022 Annual Report on the University of Washington Master Plan, Seattle Campus

Posted on

Linked below is the third annual report on physical development under the University of Washington’s Seattle Campus Master Plan as approved by the Seattle City Council in February 2019. The report is structured to respond to reporting requirements found in the City University Agreement (Ordinance 121193), the ordinance approving the Campus Master Plan (Ordinance 125733), and the Conditions of Approval attached to that ordinance. This report covers January through December 2021

2022 Annual Report

In this reporting period, the University began to emerge from pandemic restrictions and resumed mostly in-person classes in the fall. Although operations are slowly returning to normal, not all people have returned to campus on a regular basis and Covid variants continue to affect the return. The University appreciates the ongoing partnership of City of Seattle staff and the sacrifices made throughout the greater community.

With regard to the requirements of the annual report, two sites have been under construction by the University of Washington: S40 (Health Sciences Education Building) and C3 (Founders Hall). Two sites have been under design: W27 (multi-user building including Center for Advanced Materials and Clean Energy Technologies) and C11 (Interdisciplinary Engineering Building). One additional site has been selected for development: E59 (Basketball Training and Health and High Performance Center). One project (ICA Softball Performance Center) has been completed during this period. The University measured a 16.4% single occupancy vehicle rate, which is a decline of 2.3% since 2018. As this is the beginning of a new Master Plan, many Conditions of Approval have not been completed yet.

Improving U District Safety and Cleanliness with the U District Partnership

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Through investments in the U District Partnership (UDP), the University is improving safety and cleanliness in the U District. Some examples of the work that UDP does include:

  • Safety Ambassadors patrol the neighborhood seven days per week, providing assistance to visitors and improving security for small businesses. These ambassadors typically work in teams of two and spend their time getting to know the needs of business owners and residents. In addition, the University is paying for an additional ambassador to patrol outside the new U District Sound Transit light rail station Monday through Friday.

 

  • Complementing the ambassadors’ work, an Outreach Care Coordinator from REACH works with people experiencing homelessness and mental crisis in the U District. They have been successful in connecting these people with services and housing. Recently, they helped move 29 people off the street into Rosie’s Tiny Home Village located at 11th & 45th.

 

  • On January 28, UDP organized a walk with elected officials and City of Seattle staff to better understand the safety issues facing U District business owners and residents. This walk included Councilmembers Alex Pedersen and Sara Nelson, City Attorney Ann Davison, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz, Deputy Mayor Kendee Yamaguchi and key staff from the Mayor’s Office. They learned first-hand about recent problems with graffiti, broken windows, theft and mental health crisis. UDP is following-up with the City to make sure these issues are addressed in a constructive and collaborative manner.

 

  • The UDP contracts to provide daily cleaning along the Ave and periodic cleaning throughout the U District. In 2021, they provided 7,995 hours of cleaning. This included the removal of 7,966 graffiti tags, 7,975 biohazards and 11,209 bags of trash. They also sweep leaves and shovel snow.

 

  • UDP recently began a Broken Window and Façade Improvement Program to assist business owners with damage to their building fronts. Unfortunately, a number of windows have been broken recently in the District. This program will offer assistance to these businesses to get their windows replaced and make other improvements to their building facades.

 

  • To make the U District more welcoming and dissuade graffiti, the UDP has also been painting murals throughout the neighborhood. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Neptune Theatre, UDP commissioned an art installation along the side of the alley off of NE 45th between the Ave and Brooklyn. It features a graphic trident, representation of waves, and colorful scales. The mural is the beginning of a larger effort to beautify U District alleys through public art.

 

  • In addition to physical improvements, the UDP is also planning several events to energize the neighborhood this year. This spring, businesses will celebrate the cherry blossoms by featuring cherry or cherry blossom-themed menu items, products. “Boba Fest” will celebrate the nearly 20 bubble tea restaurants in the University District on National Boba Day – Saturday, April 30, 2022. In May, the U District Street Fair will return after a two-year hiatus.

 

2021 Annual Report on the University of Washington Master Plan, Seattle Campus

Posted on

Linked below is the second annual report on physical development under the University of Washington’s Seattle Campus Master Plan as approved by the Seattle City Council in February 2019. The report is structured to respond to reporting requirements found in the City University Agreement (Ordinance 121193), the ordinance approving the Campus Master Plan (Ordinance 125733), and the Conditions of Approval attached to that ordinance. This report covers January through December 2020.

2021 Annual Report

In this reporting period, the University and the greater community worked to meet the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. University life and operations differed significantly from typical years as this report will show. The University appreciates the partnership of City of Seattle staff and the sacrifices made throughout the greater community.

With regard to the requirements of the annual report, two sites have been under construction by the University of Washington: S40 (Health Sciences Education Building) and C3 (Founders Hall). Two additional sites have been selected for development: W27 (multi-user building including Center for Advanced Materials and Clean Energy Technologies) and C11 (Interdisciplinary Engineering Building). However, no projects under this campus master plan have been completed during this time. The University measured a 7.5% single occupancy vehicle rate, which is a decline of 11.2% since 2018. The significant decline in the single occupancy vehicle rate is due to the majority of students and staff learning or working from home during the pandemic. As this is the beginning of a new Master Plan, most Conditions of Approval have not been completed yet.