Poulsbo’s Moving the Needle on Affordable Housing

By Heather Wright, AICP | City of Poulsbo Community Development Director

During the third week of September, the City of Poulsbo both celebrated a major affordable housing milestone and took steps toward encouraging new housing opportunities in our community.

The first milestone was the grand opening of the Nordic Cottages — the first city-led affordable housing development. It provides eight one-bedroom deeply affordable units (<30% AMI) for low-income seniors and adults with disabilities. It is built on city-owned land, in partnership with neighboring Gateway Fellowship Church to provide parking and managed by Housing Kitsap.

Nordic Cottages Open House

The second initiative was an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Open House. While ADU’s are not restricted as affordable housing, their smaller size and placement on already developed property often make them more affordable by nature. This summer, Poulsbo partnered with Kitsap County, Bremerton, Port Orchard, and Bainbridge Island to release four pre-approved ADU plan sets by Artisans Group, Architects that residents can use at no cost (as long as no changes are made). The Open House built on that effort by connecting homeowners with the professionals who can help make ADUs a reality.

Held at a local gathering spot, the event brought together a wide range of expertise: planning, engineering, and building staff from Poulsbo; two local loan officers; two builders; a realtor; a land use attorney; and a resident who had already completed an ADU project. Others joined in to share insights on modular construction and rental opportunities.

We had hoped for 50 participants — instead, the room began filling even before the event started, and by the end of the evening nearly 100 people from Poulsbo and across Kitsap County had attended. It was the Planning Department’s first time hosting a drop-in style open house without a formal presentation, and the enthusiasm and energy exceeded expectations.

We look forward to building on this momentum — perhaps with a more formal event in the future or by partnering again with Kitsap County. One thing is clear: our community is eager to explore ADUs as a practical tool for addressing housing needs.