Housing falls far short of local demand

By Ken Stern

Skagit County continues to have a huge shortfall in housing construction, particularly in multi-unit buildings of any type.

The state’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board five-year housing advisory plan, a 75-page report released in May, shows within the county the need for more residential construction and a critical lack of affordable housing options. This mirrors housing needs throughout Washington.

Some 1,300 homes were built in the 2020-2023 period in the county, about 434 annually. That is 38% below the projected production need of 705 homes annually. The lack of supply incre...