Kirkland responds to INRIX departure over ‘homeless hotel,’ says it tried to speak with CEO

Transportation data and analytics company INRIX will be moving out of Kirkland after nearly two decades.

INRIX CEO Bryan Mistele posted on X Friday, stating the company is moving due to a nearby “homeless hotel.” However, the city called the building “permanent supportive housing” in an email to KIRO 7 and MyNorthwest.

This week @INRIX signed a lease which will move us out of Kirkland which has been our home for the past 18 years.

Why? @KirklandGov made a decision to put a homeless hotel right across the street from our current HQ, in the backyard of #EastsidePrep and next door to…

— Bryan Mistele (@BryanMi) February 28, 2025

Mistele claims the building, across the street from INRIX’s headquarters, has no required drug testing, no required treatment and has no supervision on-site. He also cited data that shows crime rises in the area due to homeless establishments.

“Where this experiment has happened before in King County, crime rates have risen since, according to reliable data, 70%+ of homelessness is the result of drug addiction and/or mental health issues,” he stated.

INRIX CEO says Kirkland government failed to address issues

Mistele also alleges the Kirkland City Council did not listen to his concerns.

“When I attended the City Council meeting to speak out on this issue, @KirklandGov refused to let anyone speak,” he wrote. “A previous mayor once told me years ago that INRIX was the 5th largest employer in @Kirkland. I have no idea what we are now (we’ve grown), but bad public policy has consequences. Employers can move. We are. If a local government won’t listen to its citizens and/or employers, they will probably find other places to locate.”

One X user commented under Mistele’s post, asking if INRIX was hiring.

In response, Mistele replied, “Yes, but mainly for tech roles.”

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City of Kirkland has ‘no record of Mistele being turned away at council meetings’

In response to Mistele’s claims, the City of Kirkland emailed a statement to KIRO 7 and MyNorthwest.

The City of Kirkland is disappointed to hear about INRIX’s decision to leave Kirkland because of the Health Through Housing project. We understand that surrounding businesses and residents have concerns whenever a facility like this is sited. The safety of the facility’s residents, surrounding businesses, and the community is the city’s top priority. The city supports the facility to provide stable and safe homes for up to 102 disabled and chronically unhoused individuals while also being a positive addition to the community when it opens later this year.

Up to 65% of these new residents will be people experiencing homelessness from Kirkland or the Eastside. To keep all parties safe, the city negotiated with King County for various important elements be included in the agreement regarding the facility. That agreement is available on the city’s website. The city continues to engage the community in the current drafting of the Code of Conduct, Safety Plan, Good Neighbor Agreement and Community Engagement Plan for the facility to ensure community questions and concerns about safety are accounted for in the plans. Of note, the Safety Plan will be drafted in partnership with the Kirkland Police Department.”

The city also wrote that it has “no record of Mr. Mistele being turned away at council meetings” and that it has reached out to Mistele for more information.

“According to city records, Mr. Mistele wrote the city council in February 2022 when King County first announced the purchase of the property. In response to Mr. Mistele’s and similar emails, the city provided various ways to get involved in our upcoming public process. We are seeking understanding from Mr. Mistele on any attempts to contact the city over the last three years,” it added.

The city also wrote that it hopes INRIX will decide to return to Kirkland in the future.

The City of Kirkland’s website states that Kirkland is “committed to each resident’s well-being by connecting them with the resources needed to live and thrive.”

For more information on Kirkland’s homeless housing projects, visit the City of Kirkland’s website.

Related from MyNorthwest: US homelessness rises 18%, hits over 31K in WA as affordable housing remains an issue

This story was originally published on February 28, it has been updated and republished since then.

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