MBAKS held its annual Housing Solution Breakfast on October 17, gathering elected officials, industry leaders, city staff and housing partners to elevate the importance of successful middle housing implementation. The event emphasized the partnership it will take to do it right. We used the program to strengthen our messaging on middle housing policy and acknowledge the hard work ahead for many cities.

This year we were joined by 140 guests with over 35 public officials in attendance. The program opened with a video featuring MBAKS homebuilder members and Redmond Mayor Angela Birney. The video highlights the importance of our shared work implementing House Bill 1110 at the local level.

Our Keynote speaker, Morgan Shook, Senior Policy Analyst and Partner at ECONorthwest, provided an overview of Oregon’s middle housing efforts, what’s working and what’s not. Key takeaways include:

• Graduated floor area ratio (FAR) limits encourage the development of more small units.
• Removing minimum parking requirements is another way to facilitate middle housing.
• Local governments should use caution when regulating frontage improvements or other infrastructure upgrades. These costs are substantial and impact financial feasibility, creating an unsurmountable barrier and resulting in fewer homes.
• View the full slide presentation here.

Attendees also had the opportunity to hear from Josh Brown, Executive Director at Puget Sound Regional Council and Cathy MacCaul, Advocacy Director at AARP of Washington. Each brought their unique perspective and emphasized why this work is so important for meeting our region’s housing needs.

To learn more about MBAKS’ efforts on Middle Housing implementation, please see MBAKS Middle Housing Implementation Plan.

And don’t forget to read about middle housing in the news! MBAKS and members partnered to publish three editorials this year in support of successful middle housing implementation. Read more here.

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Master Builders Association President Aims to Continue Association's Legacy as Trusted Source for Homebuilders

“I am thrilled and honored to be serving as President of the Board of Directors,” said Tenhulzen. “After 25 years of being a member, I continue to be inspired by people around me who selflessly give their time to help continue the success of the association.”

With a degree in Exercise Physiology and Business focused on Ergonomics from Washington State University and a Master’s in Human Resources from Southern New Hampshire University, Tenhulzen began her career in Corporate Wellness. Tenhulzen then transitioned into the homebuilding industry when she started her own safety and consulting company, Safety Resource Management and Consulting. She sold her company and joined Tenhulzen Residential seven years later and now serves as the Executive Producer where she oversees the business operations, which includes Human Resources, Sales, and Safety Management.

“Our goal is to build homes, not barriers,” stated Tenhulzen. “The advocacy work that the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties does will help generations to come set down roots in the wonderful region we call home.”

Tenhulzen is an active member of the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club and enjoys watching her son Matthew play football. In their spare time the Tenhulzen family enjoy hiking, skiing, cooking and going on long walks with Isabelle, their black lab.

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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Each election cycle, our Affordable Housing Council (AHC) interviews candidates at the city, county, and state levels to determine their degree of support for our industry.

The following candidates have received an AHC endorsement for the 2021 election cycle. 

Ballots will be mailed out Friday, October 15 and are due Tuesday, November 2. Your vote in support of AHC-endorsed candidates will go a long way toward affecting the outcome of these critical races. 

For dropbox locations, ballot questions, and more, visit King County Elections or Snohomish County Elections.

*Also located in Snohomish County