In some ways it may be hard to imagine someone other than Chuck Weinstock at the helm of Capitol Hill Housing. After 19 years as CHHIP's executive director, it is only natural to consider him the face of the organization. But he doesn't think there will be any problem with the transition to a new director.
Weinstock also laughed at the notion of any sinister reasons behind his departure. It was, he said, simply time to move on.
"There were practical as well as family reasons," he said. "My family and I moved to Vashon Island after 28 years in Seattle. And I'd been at Capitol Hill Housing for nearly 20 years. It just came down to it being time for me and my family to try something else. I also think to some degree that after an organization has had a director for a long time it can be time for some new blood, new views and new perspectives."
A few projects stand out for him. The Villa, on the corner of Boren Avenue and East Pine Street, is significant because CHHIP's involvement came from an invitation from several community groups. Being a gateway location provided a unique opportunity as well. On 15th and Harrsion, CHHIP faced the challenge of building a project in the heart of a successful retail district that was the first new building there in quite some time. "That was scary and also very gratifying," he said.
The recent Broadway Crossing project on the corner of Broadway and East Pine Street also stands out as a singular accomplishment, especially given the unique partnership between the developer, CHHIP and Walgreens that led to its creation.
"But buildings aside, I'm very proud of how the organization became a good community partner. CHHIP is involved in Cal Anderson Park, design reviews, the new chamber of commerce. We're part of the Capitol Hill Stewardship Council. I'm proud of the fact that CHHIP doesn't just do housing and ignore other aspects of being involved in our community," he said.
Weinstock had been working in community development before joining CHHIP.
Focusing on affordable housing became important to him because keeping neighborhoods strong, diverse and vibrant was and remains one of his core values.
"What I liked about CHHIP is that we didn't just have a shtick. We didn't just look for places to build things. We looked to contribute to the neighborhood's complexity, to save old buildings and provide housing opportunities for people where the market wouldn't. And each year was different. The community changed, the politics change and certainly the organization changed," he said.
Certainly one change involves the scale of the organization. When Weinstock took over, CHHIP had seven or eight buildings and fewer than 100 apartments. That total is now 39 buildings with more than 1,000 units. Over nearly two decades working in affordable housing, Weinstock has seen the issue itself change. When he began at CHHIP, real estate prices on the Hill were far lower.
"There were also parts of the neighborhood, and kinds of buildings, that the market wasn't interested in then. We could buy a building and fix it up in a fairly straightforward way," he said. "There are now no parts of the Hill that the market isn't interested in. This means the price of everything goes up at the same time that the need for what we do increases. "
The climate has become much more competitive, so that finding property itself is a far greater challenge. One method has been to find property owners who connect with the organization's values, who appreciate what CHHIP does.
"Some sellers really want to see a buyer who will take care of their property and see that it has a positive place in the community. CHHIP counts on finding that kind of social capital as well," he said.
Despite leaving Capitol Hill Housing, Weinstock won't be giving up on the idea of affordable housing. He's accepted a position with Washington Mutual and starting on Oct. 15, he'll be working affordable housing projects, albeit from another angle.
"I'll be working on the kinds of project CHHIP does, focusing on community lending," Weinstock said. "I'm really looking forward to it. I get to continue the work I enjoy and try some new things. I'll certainly be seeing the affordable housing issue from an entirely different side."
Doug Schwartz is the editor of the Capitol Hill Times. Reach him at editor@capitolhilltimes.com or 461-1308.
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