WATCH: How abandoned big box stores could help solve WA’s housing crisis

(The Center Square) – A recently released report from the office of Lt. Gov. Denny Heck suggests vacant big-box stores and empty strip malls in many communities could be a partial solution for Washington state’s housing shortage.

The 2025 operating budget tasked Heck’s office with studying the potential for adding housing on commercial or previously commercial properties.

“An example would be converting an abandoned Sears store and the surrounding parking lots into a community of homes,” noted the study.

Earlier this month, Heck presented the findings to the Senate Housing Committee and spoke with The Center Square about the study results.

“The ancient phrase is ‘There’s gold in them thar hills,’” said Heck. “By universal consensus, people believe that there is a potential here to add a significant number of homes. It’s not a silver bullet, but it can make a material differe...