My Green Lake | Seattle's Green Lake Blog

Updated May 3, 2011

Two affordable housing buildings in Green Lake are already smoke-free, and another may be smoke-free in the near future.

Last week, The Seattle and King County Department of Public Health announced no-smoking policies for nine housing providers. One of the providers, Seattle Housing Authority, operates three Green Lake locations: Green Lake Plaza, Olmsted Manor, and Willis House.

Green Lake Plaza, located at 505 NE 70th St, has 129 apartments. The Seattle Housing Authority is currently drafting policies that would make this building, along with others in the Low Income Public Housing Program, smoke-free.

The policies could prohibit smoking inside buildings and on patios and balconies. Residents would not be required to quit smoking and smokers would not be prohibited from moving in. The policies would also provide for smoking cessation help for residents who want to quit.

Olmsted Manor (501 NE Ravenna Blvd) and Willis House (6341 5th Ave NE), both Seattle Senior Housing Program buildings, went smoke-free this past August.

“This is a major achievement and public health success that will ensure more families have access to safe and healthy living environments,” said Dow Constantine, King County Executive, in a press release on Thursday (April 28, 2011). “Everyone deserves to breathe smoke-free air where they live. Policies like these are an excellent example of how partnerships between local government, housing providers, and other community-based organizations can promote a healthier King County.”