TACOMA, WA – The Levee Road Housing development celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Tribal Council and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians (PTOI) Housing Department honoring the new homeowners and presenting them with their keys.
“We are opening up new housing for our membership – housing that was paid for by our tribe,” said Chairman Bill Sterud. “It wasn’t paid for by the U.S. government or the State of Washington. It came from us.”
Located near the Little Wild Wolves Youth and Community Center on Levee Road, residents and community members gathered to see the development in person and share in the celebration. The houses were built by tribal members for tribal members and were fully funded by the tribe, marking the first completed project by Tahoma Construction Services, the tribe’s construction company.
“It takes years of planning to get this stuff done,” said Councilwoman Monica Miller. “It takes time, but we are there. We’re moving you guys in and we’re getting new housing.”
The funding for the housing project was sourced from the tribe’s ongoing economic development efforts, which has also created job opportunities for tribal members. Having begun construction in September 2024, the community of houses was finally able to welcome in the first wave of residents while the tribe’s longhouse and other units approach completion.
“Between all the housing we have with Set Aside [tribal housing program], HUD housing and tribal housing, we’re doing our best to house our people,” said Councilwoman Annette Bryan. “And I know this is just scratching the surface.”
The full scope of the Levee Road project will include 45 townhomes alongside 10 single-family homes, providing a forward step toward meeting the housing needs of the tribe. Councilman James Rideout expressed how he wants the tribe to continue expanding housing projects like this in the future.
“We have to fulfill all the needs of every aspect of the tribe, and housing is one of them,” said Councilman Rideout. “I’m already in my mind preparing, what is the next location? What is the next set of dwellings, what is the next set of 250 people that are going to be housed?”
Beyond the homes, the Levee Road Housing Development site also includes grounds for a new longhouse. Once completed, the longhouse will have an indoor space of approximately 17,300 sq. ft., and will serve both the local community and the tribe as a whole.
“This is part of you, this is something we are leaving behind for our people,” said Councilman Fred Dillon.
During the ceremony, incoming residents were greeted individually by Tribal Council and the Housing Board before receiving the key to their house. The ribbon-cutting ceremony saw 13 households receiving their keys, with the full housing development including the new longhouse to be completed in May 2026. Vice Chairwoman Sylvia Miller wrapped up the address by thanking all of the attendees and tribal departments who were involved in the completion of the project.
“We have so much to be thankful for, every one of us,” said Vice Chairwoman Miller. “This is a place for everybody to enjoy, and family will all be one here.”
