HNA 3/11 Meeting Recap: La Quinta Summer Opening Preparations

Links to Media Coverage

Author

Houghton Neighborhood Association
March 19, 2025

Thank you to the approximately 150 of you who attended our recent Houghton Neighborhood Association meeting on Tuesday March 18th. Your engagement and support help to make us a stronger neighborhood!

*See end of this message for video and news coverage of the primary topic - King County La Quinta, low barrier, permanent supportive housing (PSH) project that’s currently under construction (renovation) and is expected to have a soft opening in July. 

We felt it was important and timely to provide an open forum to explore the plans for this facility insofar as metrics of success, as well as safety and security for both residents of the facility, business, residential neighbors and the community in general. Additional attention was brought to this issue by the announcement of a significant South Kirkland employer INRIX, making plans to move the company citing proximity to La Quinta/PSH as the main driver. This very recent development drew local media KOMO and homelessness independent journalist, Jonathan Choe to cover the meeting.

We are appreciative of the panel who joined us, including representatives from the King County Health Through Housing Initiative, City of Kirkland, the Kirkland Police Department, and the facility operator, Plymouth Housing. 

Our community asked excellent questions in an effort to get a better understanding of each organization’s role as well as expressing primary concerns surrounding safety and allowable drug use inside of the facility. 

The organizations involved, along with community members, are continuing to work on a code of conduct as well as other key documents that will govern residency in the facility.  Your ongoing input on this topic is highly encouraged and welcome.  Please communicate with Kirkland City Council and cc HNA at [email protected].

LINKS

Recording of our entire meeting.  Our thanks go out to neighborhood volunteer Carl Malone for providing the video.

Additional media coverage that occurred both before and after our meeting below:

Kirkland Homeless Drug Hotel Causing Outrage In The Community: journalist Jonathan Choe https://youtu.be/f1uGrKEthuo?si=4w4qTtyAMH9WXTe6

The Jake and Spike Show on KIRO radio FM and My Northwest.com Gentleman’s Disagreement starts at 23 minutes:

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