Seaside is moving forward with a proposal to build an affordable housing project near the old Seaside High School.

The North 40 property, located on the north end of Roosevelt Drive, was given to the city in 2022 by Clatsop County as part of an effort to use surplus land for housing, child care or social services.

“This project is a great opportunity to build needed rental housing for residents,” Elissa Gertler, the county’s housing manager, said. “Whether it’s residents of Seaside or, frankly, residents of other parts of the county who work in Seaside and need a place to live.”

Thirty-eight percent of the workforce in Seaside commutes from out of town.

“There are other properties that the county owns as well that have been looked at that are also suitable for housing in cities,” Gertler said. “And hopefully this is a model that can be used again and again throughout the county.”

The county had identified 31 surplus properties for potential use for housing, child care or social services, but walked back the initiative last year after residents organized to oppose a workforce housing project proposed for parcels in Arch Cape. The county’s shift did not impact the property transferred to Seaside.

At a City Council meeting June 10, the city chose Related Northwest as the developer for the North 40 project, citing the Portland-based organization’s financial structure, experience, design proposal and qualifications.

“I’m impressed with a lot of the developments that they’ve completed,” Mayor Steve Wright said. “They have tremendous letters of support and a great, solid foundation.”

Stefanie Kondor, the leader of the North 40 project and Related Northwest’s senior vice president of development, grew up in Seaside and graduated from Seaside High School.

“My family still lives in Seaside, and I see the impacts of the need for housing and how critical it is, and how challenging that is for residents on the coast,” she said. “And so being able to do a project on the former high school that I attended is kind of surreal, and it just means a lot. I’m thrilled, Related is thrilled, and I’m going to work really hard for the city of Seaside to bring about the best project possible.”

Related Northwest is aiming to build 57 to 65 units targeted toward lower- and- middle-income renters. The developer is also seeking a preference policy from the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department, which would give priority to residents and the local workforce.

While Related Northwest will own and manage the housing once the project is completed, they plan to partner with Clatsop Community Action to provide on-site resident services.

They also hope to partner with Art Room, an Astoria organization championing local art education, to provide free after-school programming for children.

According to Kondor, the timeline for development depends largely on public funding.

“We’re pursuing low-income housing tax credits and state subsidies and things to, you know, be able to bring a truly long-term affordable project,” she said.

In addition to the North 40 project, CareOregon is developing the Hawk’s Eye apartments for low-income residents and health care providers at the former Red Lion Inn & Suites on S. Holladay Drive.

Wright said workers are also making headway on Esperanza Village, which is intended to be a low-barrier housing shelter for the homeless along N. Roosevelt Drive.

“We have all these opportunities for additional housing, some of it supportive housing, housing for the houseless to be able to move into, transitional housing,” the mayor said. “I just think we’re in a really good spot right now, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we do over the next couple of years.”