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 remaining lots.
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 Trust, San Juan County’s Affordable Housing Coordinator and local news media.
Topics ranging from who is in need of affordable housing in the San Juans to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the upcoming vote on establishing a San Juan County Home Fund were discussed.
Please reserve Saturday, June 30 on your calendar and plan to attend OPAL’s annual celebration dinner: Housing Touches Everyone: A Gala OPAL Evening. The event will be held at the Orcas Center beginning at 5:30 p.m.
You will enjoy a delicious meal made by Chef Jon Chappelle of Doe Bay Café. Later on, join in the dessert dash and a paddle raise to support permanently affordable housing on Orcas.
Early event sponsors include: Bossy’s Feltworks, Island Market, Islanders Bank, Kevin Ranker and Tina Torri, Rock Island Communications, San Juan Insurance Services, San Juan Propane, Stoltz Kau Architects, Washington Federal Savings Bank.
Tickets are $125 per person. To reserve your place, click here to purchase tickets online or call 360-376-3191.
Join us on Thursday, April 26 for OPAL’s annual meeting and potluck at the Episcopal Church Parish Hall in Eastsound.
At 5:00 p.m., enjoy hors d’oeuvres, business meeting, election of renewing trustees, and a presentation on new rental housing and the new Island Loan Fund.
We also will honor retiring Trustee Penny Sharp Sky.
At approximately 6:00 p.m., OPAL will provide soup and bread. Please bring your own place setting. If you care to, bring a potluck item, your choice of salad, dessert or appetizer.
In the spirit of the holidays, Brita Brahce made a generous donation to OPAL, helping to bring the April’s Grove affordable rental neighborhood one step closer to reality. Brita and her story were featured in an article in Orcas Issues. Margie Doyle writes, “A young woman values the community and mission of OPAL Community Land Trust and realizes that ‘the best things in life aren’t things.’ ” Click here for the full story.
Click here to read the entire story by Colleen Armstrong, The Islands’ Sounder.
OPAL Community Land Trust’s 45-unit rental project is inching its way closer to completion thanks to a major donation from the Orcas Island Community Foundation.
After an in-depth assessment and board discussion, the foundation chose to pledge $250,000 to the April’s Grove development on North Beach Road. The money is from a legacy gift left by the late Bob Henigson, and is contingent upon all other funds for the project being in place.
“This is 10 times bigger than anything we have done,” said OICF Director Hilary Canty. “We see housing as a critical need in this community. The OPAL project is shovel ready: they have the land and the plans. They just need the money.”
The land trust also needs to collect $450,000 in pledges and/or donations by Jan. 15, 2018 in order to make the deadline for its Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit application. OPAL has budgeted a total of $1.3 million in funds from private donations, and if the state legislature does not adopt a capital budget, that amount will increase to $3.1 million. The tax credit program requires 50 percent of private donations to be raised or pledged by the application deadline. Donors can give now or have until 2021 to pay. Pledges can be made online at www.opalclt.org, by email opalclt@opalclt.org or by calling 360-376-3191.
Be a part of the voice that shapes Eastsound over the next 20 years. Request an invite to the Eastsound Vision Survey . Share your views and opinions on Livability. Open Space, Village Character, and Parking/Lighting/Transportation.
In August, OPAL purchased 3.8 acres of land in Eastsound for April’s Grove, The property is located on North Beach Road, directly across the street from Children’s House. Plans include 45 rental townhouses that are affordable for individuals and families whose incomes range from $12,000 to $70,000 per year. The neighborhood will also feature a commons building, community garden, children’s play area and parking.
The purchase was made possible by donations from individuals, a low-interest-rate loan from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, and by islanders Jim and Betsy Nelson, owners of the property.
OPAL’s eleventh “recycled house” arrived on island August 17th. Previously, it was located on Lake Union in Seattle, where Peter Erickson y Brigitte Bertschi raised their family. After learning about OPAL’s history of relocating houses, they decided to donate their much-loved home, along with funding to help pay for the move. Peter and Brigitte are delighted to know that it will become a home for another family.
Look for the house at 54 Mountain View Street in Eastsound.
Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib and Senator Kevin Ranker spoke in support of affordable housing at the OPAL Rally at the Village Green on July 12th.
“OPAL, for years, has been the driving force in making sure that we maintain the diversity in our community,” said Ranker. “What we need to do is support OPAL so we can continue to have that diverse, thriving community that we love.”
Read the complete Islands’ Sounder article here
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