OPAL Awarded $6M in Tax Credits, Grants for April’s Grove

— from Judy Whiting for OPAL Community Land Trust —

OPAL’s fundraising team celebrates reaching the 85 percent mark of money needed to break ground for the new April’s Grove rentals in Eastsound: (L to R) board president Tim Fuller, trustees Rusty Diggs and Margaret Mills, executive director Lisa Byers, and trustee and fundraising chair Pegi Groundwater.

OPAL Community Land Trust will receive more than $6 million in state and federal funding to build April’s Grove, a neighborhood of 45 affordable rental townhomes on North Beach Road in Eastsound.

An award of $4,312,702 in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) was officially confirmed in late April. This is the first time in almost 30 years that a project in San Juan County has received funding from the LIHTC program.

“This would not have been possible without the strong support demonstrated by the Orcas community and San Juan County for this project,” said Lisa Byers, OPAL executive director, in announcing the award.

OPAL was also notified that it will receive grants of $1,576,843 from the Washington State Housing Trust Fund and $200,000 from the federal Community Development Block Grant program.

“When combined with donations from individuals in the community, plus funding already committed from San Juan County, the Orcas Island Community Foundation, other foundations and two loans, April’s Grove now has 85 percent of the money needed to build,” said Byers.

In addition, OPAL received $204,000 from the Housing Trust Fund to purchase four scattered-site homes on Orcas and convert them to the community land trust model, making them permanently affordable to qualifying low-income homebuyers.

The effort to build April’s Grove to provide affordable rentals for working families, seniors, and households who are homeless or have disabilities began three years ago when OPAL signed a purchase and sale agreement to buy 3.8 acres on North Beach Road from longtime islanders Jim and Betsy Nelson.

Since then, OPAL purchased the property and architects have drawn up plans for 45 residences in 11 buildings, plus a commons building with laundry facilities and meeting room, play yard, and common garden and picnic area. When completed, rents will be based on percent of median income and will be affordable for households with annual incomes from $10,000 to $80,000.

April’s Grove, named for the beloved cow and former Eastsound mayor who once lived in the orchard next door, is located adjacent to schools, day care, youth recreation, and the senior center, and within walking distance of retail services and medical facilities.

“To break ground in January, OPAL needs to raise a final $2 million by the end of the year, with pledges payable through 2020,” explained Byers. “We’ll be reaching out to the community again over the next few months. Housing touches everyone and continues to be the island’s greatest need. Our aim is to complete construction and begin renting in 2020.”

Incorporated in 1989, OPAL serves 133 rental and ownership Orcas Island households. For more information, go to www.opalclt.org or call (360) 376-3191.