Neighbors outraged over plan to convert $1million church property to affordable housing in Washington community

A Washington state community is up in arms over plans to convert a century-old church into affordable housing specifically for young adults.

Amici House, run by Andrew and Julie Cain, purchased The Rock Revival Center in Tacoma’s North End neighborhood for $1 million in April 2021. The church, built in 1908, will now be converted by the Cains into what they hope will be 11 shared rooms accommodating 40 to 50 people aged 18 to 26.

People in the neighborhood are concerned about how the change in the facility will affect the area with dozens of new affordable homes.

“I was looking for my death home, and now that Amici is coming in, a lot of us are saying, ‘Maybe we can’t stay,’” said resident Jean Elliot. “This is a family neighborhood.”

Another resident expressed concern about how the influx of residents would impact on-street parking.

“For someone like me who has severe mobility limitations, it is a concern to me that I wouldn’t be able to park within 25 to 30 feet of my house,” said Sharyn Hinchcliffe, who lives a house away and says she is “frustrated.” ‘ by the proposal.

She worries that the area’s children could be put at risk by the types of people invited into the housing, as it is a largely family-oriented neighborhood.

“So you have 18- to 26-year-old young adults trying to get on with their lives,” Hinchcliffe told KIRO7.

“There must be a 100 percent guarantee to protect the children in this neighborhood and that is a lot.”

Elliot, who moved to the area in 2015, believes the traffic caused by the renovation will be bad for local children.

“That traffic coming in can’t be good for kids who are biking, walking or on their scooters,” she added.

Julie Cain told it The News Tribune the program is about ‘helping young people start their lives.’

They add that the foundation of the church building itself will remain intact due to the renovation.

People in the neighborhood, like Jean Elliot, are concerned about the consequences of the influx of young people for the neighborhood

Amici House, run by Andrew (pictured) and Julie Cain, purchased The Rock Revival Center in Tacoma’s North End neighborhood for $1 million in April 2021

She says it can be an alternative to expensive leases and isolated living.

“Your actual bedroom is smaller, but then you could have so much more than a one- or two-bedroom apartment because we have a great common area,” she added.

Andrew Cain claims the emphasis will be on what he calls ‘communal living’ and drugs and alcohol will be banned on the premises.

“One of the things we’ve heard from young adults in recent years is the need for community, the need for affordable living, and the need for our generation to reinvest in them and help them achieve their dreams,” said Cain.

“As an educator in my profession, it just fits with what I stand for.”

Tyler Kolbo, who said he married his wife in church in 1998, doesn’t believe the policy will work.

Julie Cain says the program is about “helping young people start their lives.”

“I was looking for my death house, and now that Amici is coming in, many of us are saying, ‘Maybe we can’t stay.’ said Jean Elliot. ‘This is a family neighborhood’

“They’re going to end up with lawn chairs in our front yard, where they smoke and drink and leave their monster cans, instead of going on their property because they can’t,” he said.

Andrew Cain has also promised that tenants will require a full background check and be told to undertake a mentoring program and invest in the area.

“It’s an opportunity to give back what was invested in us,” he said. “This is about giving to young adults who have dreams and visions, supporting them and pursuing them.”

He added that there will be a residential director who will set up the mentoring program to ensure that the rules are followed and that tenants can be evicted for not following the rules.

Julie Cain seemed to address some of the backlash when she said that when the community “embraces” the youth, it gives them the opportunity to succeed in the future.