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The city council on Monday took steps toward offering more affordable housing in Vancouver by waiving about $275,000 in fees for two nonprofit housing complexes.

These are the first fee waivers under the current ordinance, according to Peggy Sheehan, community development grants manager. More projects are expected, including Meriwether Place, which will offer housing for homeless people who are chronically mentally ill.

The waivers keeps construction costs lower because those savings are passed on to the renters, according to Sheehan. The targeted rent for a one-bedroom apartment is between $600 and $700, but the developments will also offer two- and three-bedroom units.

The two developments, The Meadows and Sea Mar Community Health Center, sit near each other and have not yet begun construction. The Meadows is located at 3303 N.E. 78th Ave., and Sea Mar is located at 7803 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd.

The housing is available to people whose income is at or below 60 percent of the average median income – or less than $36,500 per year, according to the most recent data.