Alliances Developed: Case Study 2

Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company and City of Snoqualmie

Problem Defined

Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company (WRECO) was creating 2,500+ new construction residential development in the sleepy little town of Snoqualmie. The City of Snoqualmie was insisting that some land be set aside for affordable housing. The early negotiations allowed for Quadrant, a subsidiary of WRECO, to build 80% of median income priced housing. The City of Snoqualmie determined that 80% of median income was not truly affordable for the current families in the Snoqualmie Valley and insisted that land be set aside for residents living or working in Snoqualmie Valley who earned 30-50% of median income.

Alliances Identified

• Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company (WRECO)
• City of Snoqualmie
• Habitat for Humanity East King County

Solution Outlined

• WRECO made a gift of the land to The City of Snoqualmie
• The City of Snoqualmie made a gift of the land to Habitat for Humanity East King County with the condition that qualifying families selected for their program would either live or work in the Snoqualmie Valley area
• Habitat for Humanity East King County orchestrated a Blitz Build of 20 houses in 12 days in August 2001

Results Specified

• 20 families were selected and approved for affordable home ownership via Habitat for Humanity East King County
• $1.5 Million was generated, along with volunteers, from the following organizations:
  • Buchanan General Contracting Company
  • Buck & Gordon, LLP
  • Centex Homes
  • Freemasons and Their Families
  • Honeywell
  • Hart Properties
  • Kiewit Construction
  • KIXI Radio
  • Master Builders
  • Microsoft Alumni
  • Philips
  • Snoqualmie Valley Churches
  • Starbucks
  • Wells Fargo Bank
  • Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation
  • WRECO
  • Windermere Real Estate, Eastside