In mid-November site work began on April’s Grove, OPAL’s planned 45-home rental neighborhood, when Island Excavating began clearing brush and felling trees. The crew is working carefully to remove trees where buildings will be constructed while maintaining the “preserve and protect” areas surrounding the trees and undergrowth that will remain. Also in November, OPAL’s general […]

It is with heavy hearts that we say good bye to a valued member of the OPAL community.  Homeowner and trustee, Ian Van Gelder passed away on Nov 21. Ian was involved with OPAL from the very beginning, and was one of the first homeowners at Opal Commons, where he lived with his family until his […]

Kim Malcolm from KUOW spoke with Lisa Byers about the lack of affordable housing in San Juan County and the importance of voting Yes on Proposition 1 this November. To listen to the full interview click here.

  With the largest grant in it’s history, the OICF Board generously contributed $250,000 to OPAL’s April’s Grove affordable rental project. For the full Islands’ Sounder article click here.

This week OPAL’s board of trustees submitted a letter to the editor of the Islands’ Sounder in support of Proposition 1. For the full letter in the Islands’ Sounder click here.

OPAL Community Land Trust will soon start to remove trees at the April’s Grove property. Jeanne Beck and Lisa Byers have worked for OPAL for most of its 28 years so they understand taking down trees may be hard to witness. OPAL is striving to keep as many of the existing trees as possible and […]

With activity commencing on the April’s Grove site this fall, we at OPAL have begun compiling a list of email addresses for interested parties who would like updates on all things April’s Grove. If you are interested in receiving email updates about what is happening on the April’s Grove site please contact our Communications Manager, […]

Site preparation will soon begin for April’s Grove, OPAL’s neighborhood of 45 new rental residences on North Beach Road. Located across from Children’s House and the Funhouse Commons, April’s Grove will consist of studios to three-bedroom townhomes. Each dwelling will be home for individuals and families who live or work on Orcas Island and need […]

Rita and Dr. Stephen Bailey generously donated one quarter of their Kidder Way parcel in a recent sale of the property to OPAL. The Bailey’s gift has not only provided a permanent home for an Orcas High School teacher and his family, but will also allow OPAL to create further affordable housing  on the three […]

On Friday, August 10, Senator Maria Cantwell held a roundtable discussion at the OPAL conference room to find out more about what affordable housing issues we face in San Juan County. Along with the Senator and her staff, the roundtable was attended by OPAL staff, a few board members and residents, San Juan Community Home […]