The Alaska Legislature will soon offer more housing options for its members in Juneau.
A House-Senate Committee approved $6.6 million last month to convert the Assembly Building (a state-owned office building located just steps from the Capitol) into 33 apartments.
Staff and legislators believe it could address common housing issues during the legislative session.
It could be easier to transport cars to Juneau from downtown. This would be a perk to legislators such as Anchorage Senator Bill Wielechowski who, after an icy and windy stop in Whittier, dropped his car at the ferry, stopped bringing a vehicle to Juneau.
He said that it was like a comedy scene. “I fell and couldn’t get up. Because it was sheet ice, 80 mile per hour winds, I crawled to get back to the car. Then my glasses flew into the ocean. It was unbelievable .”
This would also increase the number of sessions housing to levels comparable to pre-pandemic. The Legislative Affairs Agency maintains a list of houses, apartments, and rooms for rent that landlords submit to it. Jessica Geary, Executive Director, stated that the list became significantly smaller with COVID. Last year there were almost 100 fewer listings than in 2019.
The rent cost for an apartment in the Assembly Building has not been determined by Juneau Rep. Sara Hannan. Hannan is the chair of the committee which approved the spending.
She stated that although the goal is not to lower the market or become a profitable landlord, the font-weight is 400 ;”>” “We are not in the landlord business to make money. But I believe there will be an expectation it pays for itself .”
According state data span style=”font weight: 400 ;”>,, the average rent for an apartment is about $1,300. Legislators who do not live in Juneau get $307 per day to pay for housing, food, and other expenses.
Hannan stated that they have not yet decided what will happen to the units when the Legislature’s not in session. She said that the goal was to make the units available for staff and legislators during special sessions. This can be done throughout the tourist season.
It is becoming harder to find market rate apartments. Geary stated that in the past few years, there have been more listings submitted by the agency and posted on AirBnB.
“We have had people attempt to list using their short-term AirBnB rental rates, so about a few hundred dollars per night,” she stated. We’ve rejected those listings because it was too expensive .”
Also, earlier tourism seasons were not without their challenges. Many leases for staff and legislators end in April or May. Renters who are unable to rent for more than 90 days can be put in difficult situations.
Geary stated that span style=”font weight: 400 Ships will be coming earlier and earlier.” “We are usually okay with housing up to May 1, but then it gets a little more difficult .”
Mike Mason is a legislative staffer from 2015. Flexible lease dates are a benefit of the apartments in the Assembly Building, according to Mason.
He said that he could tell horror stories and had a font-weight of 400 . I had housing when I had five special sessions in one year. My housing was not lost, but most people did. Because people are couch-surfing span>, I am keeping people’s clothes in my home.
Anchorage Senator Loki Tobin’s chief-of-staff is Mason. Tobin stated that the April and May housing crises can impact legislators’ ability get work done.
She said that the 90-day time period results in some work being shifted because many staffers are leaving their old accommodations and moving into new ones. You can see a difference in the speed and efficiency that some bills are moving forward due to that unfortunate blip span>
Tobin stated that the Assembly Building apartments would be a welcome addition, regardless of whether it’s passing a bill on time or being able walk to work.
Geary stated that Juneau residents offer their support in an otherwise difficult market.
span style=”font weight: 400 The housing market in this area, like many other areas, is quite tight,” she stated. “But, the Juneau community continues open their homes to legislators and staff who come here to do the work for Alaskans. That speaks volumes .”
For the forthcoming session which begins Jan. 17, the Legislative Affairs Agency still lists rentals. The agency can help Juneau homeowners and legislators who need assistance finding housing.
