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When Washington Gov. Jay Inslee this week issued guidance calling for most construction projects in the state to shut down, reactions from the building industry came swiftly.

The original 鈥淪tay Home, Stay Healthy鈥� order from Inslee’s office included construction among industries considered essential and able to continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. But then a clarification issued Wednesday made clear that construction must shut down through April 8. The governor could also choose to extend the order at his discretion.

But the ambiguously worded 鈥渃larification鈥� has raised additional questions. What seemed allowable Monday suddenly wasn’t on Wednesday.

鈥淭he frustration for us has been that lack of clarity,鈥� Nelson Holmberg, executive director of the Southwest Washington Contractors Association, said Thursday. 鈥淲e spent the whole week from Monday through last night seeking clarity, and the latest memo still leaves things up in the air a little bit. We’re getting a lot of calls from members concerned about what to do, and we’re advising our members to live to the letter of the law right now.鈥�

Construction, with a few exceptions, is not considered 鈥渆ssential鈥� under the state’s 鈥淪tay Home, Stay Healthy鈥� order. Those exceptions are:

• 鈥渃onstruction related to essential activities as described in the order;
• to further a public purpose related to a public entity or governmental function or facility, including but not limited to publicly financed low-income housing; or
• to prevent spoliation and avoid damage or unsafe conditions, and address emergency repairs at both nonessential businesses and residential structures.鈥�

A memo issued by the Associated General Contractors of Washington indicated that while the Washington State Department of Transportation is shutting down virtually all of its projects, school districts and other public entities are authorized to make their own decisions whether to proceed with public infrastructure work. Publicly funded low-income housing projects will be allowed to continue, but market-rate residential projects will not.

鈥淲e are disappointed in the governor’s decision, but we also realize that the health of citizens and our workforce is paramount,鈥� AGC of Washington Executive Director David D’Hondt stated in the group’s memo. 鈥淚n the meantime, we will continue to work with the governor’s office to help get construction going as soon as possible.鈥�

Todd Horenstein, assistant superintendent for facility support services with Vancouver Public Schools, confirmed public school work now under way is proceeding under practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

鈥淥ur projects are continuing,鈥� Horenstein stated via email. 鈥淲e have an exemption under the governor’s memo sent out yesterday. School projects are considered necessary for public purpose; all of our contractors are working and practicing safe working condition as guided by the CDC.鈥�

Private-sector jobsites and projects, however, now have to be secured during the shutdown.

鈥淭he BIA is deeply disappointed with the governor’s clarification issued last night,鈥� Building Industry Association of Clark County Executive Director Avaly Scarpelli said Thursday. 鈥淗e significantly narrowed the original order, which allowed for housing construction. (The) clarification of the order is a devastating blow to the building industry and local economy.鈥�

The short-term effect, she added, will be a backlog in builders’ ability to provide housing units.

鈥淢any (builders) are now facing the hard decision to lay off eager-to-work employees at this time,鈥� Scarpelli said.

Perlo Construction builds large industrial and commercial projects 鈥� including logistics facilities 鈥� in both Oregon and Washington. Todd Duwe, the company’s director of business development, said the firm is approaching its work on a case-by-case basis.

鈥淲e’re just trying to get more clarification of that essential business component,鈥� Duwe said. 鈥淥ur preference is to keep jobs open and keep moving forward. For instance, logistics companies and distribution can be considered essential 鈥� they are delivering food, medicines and other things 鈥� and I think the governor’s office is still reviewing that, and there is still communication with industry on that.鈥�

Jennifer Spall, communications director for the Building Industry Association of Washington, echoed this.

鈥淲e’ve been inundated with calls from members asking 鈥榃here is the line?’鈥� she said. 鈥淲e’re taking those on one by one right now.鈥�

The state opened a website for affected parties to ask just that question, while the BIAW and other groups are coordinating with state agencies to ensure unemployment insurance and other benefits will be available to construction workers out of work as a result of the crisis. The pending federal emergency stimulus package is another potential source of relief, Spall added.

鈥淲e’re not only spending a lot of time answering questions; we’re just hearing heartbreaking stories about people having to lay off employees,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey don’t know how they’re going to struggle to make it through this. We’re still coming through all that and trying to understand what it all means.鈥�