Mill Creek Middle Housing
Middle Housing developments in the City of Mill Creek
The purpose of this study was to understand how much Middle Housing exists within the city today and where more could potentially be accommodated. The Middle Housing study was an exercise in gathering data and exploring options to help the City identify options the Council could consider to accommodate our future growth targets for housing, population, and jobs over the next 20 years. The results of this work will help inform the City as it continues to prepare the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update.
The parcels identified in pink (map below) were identified by data gathered from the Snohomish County Buildable Lands Report, which identified parcels: (1) having an improvement value of less than $5,000; (2) having an existing house valued less than $162,000 and 75% of the land value; or (3) the parcel having the potential to be subdivided and the existing buildings (where applicable) take up less than 20% of the buildable area within the lot. Parcels that may be larger but are encumbered with critical areas, power line easements, or have other restrictions were excluded.
During the time this map was created, HB 1110 was circulating through the legislative process and was signed into law after this map had already been created. HB 1110 as it now exists would remove many of the parcels identified in pink from the map because they exist within subdivisions that preclude some forms of Middle Housing under their homeowner’s association (HOA) and documents and declarations, which govern how real property is used in a given community/subdivision.
The results of the study have not been formally presented to the Council. The Council has not made any decisions whether, how, or where to allow additional Middle Housing. The City is awaiting guidance, due by the end of the year, from the Department of Commerce regarding how HB 1110 will be interpreted and applied.
May 03, 2023
The City of Mill Creek received a grant from the state to conduct a Middle Housing analysis. Middle Housing includes duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, stacked flats (condominiums), cottage housing, townhomes, and courtyard apartments. These types of housing are important because they are generally more affordable than detached single family homes. This can provide options for first time homebuyers or those looking to downsize but find a home in the Mill Creek community.
The City already has many existing Middle Housing neighborhoods. There are 1,466 units of existing middle housing in Mill Creek 1 , which represents about 16% of the total housing units in the city 2 . Various Middle Housing types are currently allowed in single family zones but there could be ways to improve the code and incentivize future developments to encourage more Middle Housing. This project will study these options and how this could be done in a way that maintains the character that makes Mill Creek a special place to live. Your voice is important in this process! The City is sending a post card with more information and has a link to a survey to all residents of Mill Creek to ask about your thoughts on these important issues.
The neighborhoods outlined in black indicate where existing Middle Housing is located in the city. You may recognize these or even live in one of these developments and never realized they were considered Middle Housing.
The properties outlined in pink are those which may have the capacity to provide opportunities for Middle Housing in the future In total there are 45.4 acres of land which may have the capacity to provide additional opportunities for Middle Housing in the city 3 . It is important to note that the parcels identified may or may not develop any time soon. In addition, there could be parcels that are not identified which may incur more residential development. The goal is to provide you with the best possible information regarding where Middle Housing exists and which areas are more likely to see more Middle Housing if regulations permit.
Legend: Red outline---------------- City limits Black Outline--------------Existing Middle Housing developments Pink Outline--------------- May have the capacity to provide opportunities for Middle Housing in the future. Green Color Indicator----Reference points for Middle Housing neighborhoods
1. Fairway Village
1. Fairway Village. Click to expand.
Fairway Village is a neighborhood with 56 total units. It has duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes.
2. Miller's Village
2. Miller's Village . Click to expand.
Miller's Village is a condominium complex with 69 total units. This neighborhood has duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes.
3. Mill Run
3. Mill Run . Click to expand.
Mill Run is a 56-unit development comprised of a variety of housing types, including duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes.
4. The Meadows
4. The Meadows. Click to expand.
The Meadows is a neighborhood of 129 detached condominium homes.
5. Nature's Landing
5. Nature's Landing . Click to expand.
Nature's Landing is a 60 unit condo townhome neighborhood. This neighborhood consists of duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes.
6. Mill Creek Village
6. Mill Creek Village. Click to expand.
Mill Creek Village is a 14 unit attached duplex condo development.
7. North Pointe
7. North Pointe. Click to expand.
North Pointe is a 223 unit neighborhood in north Mill Creek. There is a variety of housing types, including the following: duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, and 5-plexes.
8. Amberleigh
8. Amberleigh . Click to expand.
The Amberleigh development is home to 86-units. This neighborhood has detached condos, duplexes and quadplexes.
9. Emerald Heights
9. Emerald Heights. Click to expand.
Emerald Heights is a small neighborhood in Mill Creek. This neighborhood has 53 townhome units.
10. Lakewood Condos
10. Lakewood Condos. Click to expand.
The Lakewood Condos neighborhood have a total of 28 units. The condo units are grouped into 7 quadplexes.
11. Belvedere Place
11. Belvedere Place. Click to expand.
Belvedere Place is a small community of 20 townhomes.
12. Trillium Court
12. Trillium Court. Click to expand.
A 32-unit neighborhood comprised of 16 duplex condo buildings.
13. Pembrook
13. Pembrook. Click to expand.
Pembrook is a 26 unit townhome development with 2-unit, 3-unit and 4-unit attached townhome buildings.
14. Fairwood Greens
14. Fairwood Greens. Click to expand.
Fairwood Greens is a 34-unit duplex community located in central Mill Creek.
15. Stratford Greens
15. Stratford Greens. Click to expand.
Stratford Greens is a 31-unit attached condominium neighborhood.
16. Country Place
16. Country Place. Click to expand.
Country Place is a 19-unit neighborhood comprised of a mixture of housing types. Including duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes.
17. Main St. Duplexes
17. Main St. Duplexes. Click to expand.
The Main St. duplexes are located in the heart of Mill Creek Town Center. This development is home to 10 duplex buildings for a total of 20 housing units.
18. St. Moritz
18. St. Moritz. Click to expand.
The St. Moritz Condominiums is a condominium complex with 32 units in 2 buildings, each with 4 floors of condos, totaling 64 condo units. Condo developments fall under the stacked flats middle housing type.
19. Country Club
19. Country Club. Click to expand.
Country Club is a 151 unit condominium (also known as a stacked flats housing type, a middle housing development) neighborhood.
20. The Masters
20. The Masters. Click to expand.
The Masters is a 33-unit attached condominium complex.
21. Copper Tree
21. Copper Tree . Click to expand.
The Copper Tree neighborhood has 42 attached townhome units.
22. Mill Lane
22. Mill Lane . Click to expand.
Mill Lane is a condominium complex with 37 stacked flats.
23. Auguston Condominium
23. Auguston Condominium. Click to expand.
The Auguston Condominiums is a 111-unit neighborhood consisting of stacked flats.
24. The Pointe
24. The Pointe. Click to expand.
The Pointe is a 48-unit duplex townhome development.
25. Other Middle Housing in Mill Creek
25. Other Middle Housing in Mill Creek. Click to expand.
These are some additional examples of other middle housing in Mill Creek. Housing units above are found throughout Mill Creek and labeled as 25 in the map to the right.
(1) 2023. Snohomish County Assessor data (2) US Census 2021 ACS Table B25001 (3) The data utilized to identify these parcels comes from the Buildable Land Report, which is performed by Snohomish County. These parcels are identified due to 1) having an improvement value of less than $5,000, or 2) having an existing house valued less than $162,000 and 75% of the land value, or 3) the parcel having potential to be subdivided and the existing buildings (where applicable) take up less than 20% of the buildable area within the lot. Parcels which may are larger but are located within critical areas, power line easements, or have other restrictions have been removed. This includes removing some parcels, for example, around important places such as North Creek.
If you have any questions or comments about the Middle Housing Project in Mill Creek or this Story Map, feel free to email the project team at communications@cityofmillcreek.com or jfarias@ldccorp.com.