OLYMPIA – A bill aimed at increasing Washington’s housing supply by converting commercial buildings into residential units has cleared the state House of Representatives with overwhelming support.

House Bill 1757, sponsored by Rep. Amy Walen, D-Kirkland, expands on previous legislation that allowed housing conversions in commercial and mixed-use zones. The bill extends these allowances to commercial buildings in primarily residential areas, a move Walen says will help create more walkable, livable neighborhoods.

“We must continue to find avenues to increase housing supply,” Walen said. “Using existing spaces makes a lot of sense.”

Washington faces an ongoing housing shortage, and lawmakers have pursued various strategies to address the issue. Walen has worked on past legislation to repurpose underused commercial properties for housing, and House Bill 1757 builds on those efforts.

“Extending these allowances to residential areas means we will build more walkable, livable neighborhoods,” she said. “I am proud to have worked on generating more housing supply over the last few years and will continue to look for innovative ideas to address our housing supply challenges.”

The measure passed the House in a 95-2 vote and now moves to the Senate for consideration.