Housing Resources Bainbridge is trying once again to get Housing Kitsap to back away from selling the 550 Madison Apartments to a private developer and to consider instead selling the property to Bainbridge’s primary low-income housing provider.

Housing Kitsap is planning to sell the 550 Madison Apartments, a 13-unit complex on Madison Avenue that rents one- and two-bedroom apartments to low -income families, to get cash to help address the housing authority’s financial and debt issues.

The board of commissioners for Housing Kitsap will meet Tuesday to vote on a proposed sale of the property to Madison Avenue Development, a development company owned by Bainbridge businessman Mike Burns, has offered $2,031,000 for the property.

Housing Resources Bainbridge has offered $1.5 million for the apartment complex, as well as a commitment to keep rent at levels affordable to low- and moderate-income families.

Phedra Elliott, executive director of Housing Resources Bainbridge, sent a letter Monday — its last, Elliott said — to Housing Kitsap commissioners and asked again that the housing authority sell the property to the Bainbridge nonprofit.

“HRB’s offer is $1.5 million, $300,000 above the asking price. This is a price that is realistic for our organization, while still allowing us to meet our other obligations and goals,” Elliott said in the letter.

“Our offer is not the largest, but yet it should still be the one accepted by this board because it meets your stated budget goals for the next year,” she added.

Elliott said Housing Kitsap’s sale of 550 Madison Apartments could leave people homeless and worsen the affordable housing crisis that exists in Kitsap County.

“If displaced, these households will have a very difficult to impossible time finding housing that they can afford anywhere in Kitsap County,” Elliot said in the letter. “This displacement will further strain our already overburdened affordable housing market countywide as well as Kitsap’s social services system. Worst of all, it will very likely create more homeless individuals and families. This is too high of a price to pay for Housing Kitsap and for the larger community of Kitsap County.”

Staff for Housing Kitsap is asking its board of commissioners to approve the sale of the apartment complex to Madison Avenue Development.

The board is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 25 at Housing Kitsap, located at 2244 Bucklin Hill Road, Silverdale.

Here the text of Elliott’s letter to the board:

Dear Housing Kitsap Board of Commissioners:

First, I’d like to thank you for reading and responding to the many messages you may have received about 550 Madison over the last two weeks. I don’t know how many messages have been sent nor how many times you have responded back to your constituents, but many have commented back to me that they have heard from you regarding their concerns.

At HRB, we do not envy the difficult job that you have in overseeing Housing Kitsap and its many challenges. On the best of days, managing housing that is highly regulated and serves hundreds of families is a challenge, and Housing Kitsap’s financial woes over the last 10 years have made this even more difficult. HRB understands fully that the 550 property is being sold in order to help solve some of these issues and we will continue to work with Housing Kitsap in good faith and collaboration regardless of the outcome of this situation.

Before you vote on this crucial matter, I’d like to reiterate HRB’s offer, why we are making it, and why this Board should accept it.

HRB’s offer is $1.5 million, $300,000 above the asking price. This is a price that is realistic for our organization, while still allowing us to meet our other obligations and goals.

Our offer is not the largest, but yet it should still be the one accepted by this Board because it meets your stated budget goals for the next year.

Accepting our offer serves Housing Kitsap’s mission to manage, preserve, and build safe affordable housing serving individuals, families and communities throughout Kitsap County. If sold to another party, the likelihood is very high that rents will increase to unaffordable levels for these families. If sold to HRB, this will not happen. This housing will continue to serve low income households and will remain affordable in perpetuity.

If displaced, these households will have a very difficult to impossible time finding housing that they can afford anywhere in Kitsap County. This displacement will further strain our already overburdened affordable housing market County-wide as well as Kitsap’s social services system. Worst of all, it will very likely create more homeless individuals and families. This is too high of a price to pay for Housing Kitsap and for the larger community of Kitsap County.

Please accept our offer. It’s the best and right thing to do.

Sincerely,

Phedra Elliott