Juneau donors are giving the Legislature 16 more apartments for lawmakers

The Alaska Legislature is about to gain 16 more apartments for lawmakers to live in during session, after the Legislative Council voted unanimously to accept a donation of three downtown Juneau buildings — two four-plexes and an eight-plex. A local foundation will take ownership and renovate them for legislative housing.

Juneau is an expensive, isolated capital, and finding a place to stay during the months-long session has long been a real burden for lawmakers — especially those who aren't wealthy enough to simply buy or rent a second home there. It's not the first time the community has stepped in: the same foundation bought a downtown building in 2021 and gave it to the Legislature, free, to convert into housing. One lawmaker framed the latest gift as a reflection of Juneau's long-running support for the Legislature — and for keeping the Capitol in Juneau, a perennial question in Alaska politics.

Two council members flagged personal ties before voting. Sen. Jesse Kiehl noted that his home sits between the two four-plexes but said he saw no conflict, since he stood to neither gain nor lose. Chair Sara Hannan noted that Sen. Gary Stevens — who made the motion to accept the donation — has lived in one of the properties for 26 years. Stevens voted yes; no member objected to the disclosures. Under Alaska's legislative ethics law, a lawmaker must declare a conflict before voting when the outcome could substantially help or harm their finances.

More than two months later, the minutes recording the vote are still in draft, and neither the value of the three buildings nor the cost of the renovations appears anywhere in the council's record.