$19M ‘Bubble on Gum’ to create affordable housing for 58 families
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- Kennewick Housing Authority broke ground on 58 affordable town homes.
- Units will serve families at 30-50% area median income; rentals open 2026.
- Project stems from seven years of partnerships, paid for with state and federal grants.
It takes a sense of community to build a village.
Thanks to nearly a decade of work by community partners, a housing initiative in Kennewick will provide dozens of families with affordable homes to live in, grow and thrive.
The Bubble on Gum Sunset Ridge Townhomes development broke ground this week in an old city laydown yard at the corner of East 13th Avenue and South Gum Street. The property was once used to store Kennewick’s construction equipment, supplies and vehicles.
Garages are still in use on the adjoining property, though the city had planned to eventually move operations there to its Frost Municipal Campus on Chemical Drive.
The Kennewick Housing Authority will build 58 town homes, expected to be divided among 10 buildings with a playground, basketball court and community garden for residents. They’ll range from one bedroom to three.
They are expected to be completed and ready to rent by the end of 2026. Interim Director Hermelinda Sierra said the housing authority will create a waiting list in spring.
Building permits put the value of the project at $19 million to $20 million.
“We’re excited because housing has been a challenge in our community,” she said. “Adding that low income housing is a big deal.”
The town homes will be just down the street from another affordable housing project, Kennewick Housing’s Tiny Home community Lilac Village. That community helps low income and disabled residents, as well as veterans.
Lack of affordable housing
The project is the culmination of seven years of partnership between the Kennewick Housing authority and local stakeholders. Retired KHA Director Lona Hammer said that Port of Kennewick Commissioner Tom Moak years ago suggested looking at the 3.7 acres for housing.
It really kicked into high gear after a 2022 study showed Kennewick had a 0% affordable housing rate.
Sierra said the town homes will rent to families who make 30% to 50% of the median area income. She described the project as a “safe affordable place where families can live and thrive.”
“Together we are not just building homes, we are building hope and a stronger future for Kennewick,” Hammer said.
Kennewick City Councilman Jim Milbauer read a proclamation on behalf of the city celebrating the groundbreaking.
“... Every thriving city is built on dreams that begin small, sometimes no bigger than a bubble, and grow through teamwork, creativity and care,” it said, adding that thanks to the efforts of the KHA and community partners, Bubble on Gum, will be a reminder that affordable housing can be both welcoming and uplifting — “a symbol of inclusion, joy and optimism for those who will call it home.”
Community partnerships
Partners who helped bring the development to life include the city, Community Frameworks, ZBA Architecture, the Washington state Department of Commerce, Benton County, the Port of Kennewick and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Projects Fund.
T.W. Clark Construction is the general contractor.
Funding came from a variety of sources. The Washington Department of Commerce awarded the project a $5 million grant from its Housing Trust Fund, as well as $1.4 million from its Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program, or CHIP, grants. Sen. Patty Murray also helped secure $3 million in HUD Community Projects Funds.
The housing authority also has $13 million in bond capital allocated for the development.
For more information, visit the Kennewick Housing Authority’s website.
