OPAL Develops a New Affordable Housing Model

by Margie Doyle

Updated Oct. 30 at 3 p.m.

Where once a single-wide trailer stood behind trees, last summer OPAL cleared four lots for new homes. (All photos by Orcas Issues)

OPAL Community Land Trust, which for nearly 25 years has been providing permanent affordable housing on Orcas Island, is developing a new strategy for its mission: acquiring property and moving and renovating existing houses to that property.

OPAL’s latest development is on a four-lot piece of property off Mt. Baker Road where the increasingly-familiar sight of Nickel Bros housemoving company installed a home facing Seaview Street on Friday, Sept. 27.

Before the house was moved from the barge at North Beach, down the airport runway and up Mt. Baker Road last month, there were years of a friendship building between OPAL and the property owners, Ginny and William Robinson, who came up on weekends for years.

When the couple passed away, OPAL purchased the property at fair market value, and the affordable housing community took ownership of the property last summer. The mobile home that had been on the property since the 1970s was moved by a longtime island family to their property in Crow Valley.

The new home was sited on the southeast corner of the 4-lot property. OPAL plans to site another home on Seaview Street and two more facing Mountain View Street.

“It is OPAL’s intention to place one house on each of the four lots over the course of the next 18 to 24 months, according to OPAL’s Director Lisa Byers. “We are hoping to find a sufficient number of existing houses to move to the property” but will construct new dwellings if necessary,” she said.

Early in September, the property was regraded and prepared for houses.

The “new” house now on Seaview is a 900 sq ft, two-bedroom home that was moved from Belfair, Washington. Plans call for a foundation to be constructed underneath house and Nickel Bros will lower the house onto the new foundation and a contractor will renovate the home.

The last few years, four houses have been acquired, moved and installed in Oberon Meadow, off North Beach Road by Oberon Wood.

OPAL has been aided this year in its new housing acquisition model through $255,000 in funding from the Washington State Housing Trust Fund, leveraged by private donations so that the necessary site work and renovations/repair can be accomplished.

On the last soggy Friday in September, Nickel Bros’ crew moves a new OPAL home into place on the property (two lots face Seaview Street, two lots face Mountain View Street).

There are currently 13 qualified buyers on the OPAL wait list and another 17 Orcas households in the applicant pool, waiting to move in to OPAL housing.

The new method of adding to affordable houses will also:

• create jobs, as houses are moved and renovated;
• support local businesses, as materials and supplies are purchased;
• enhance the general health of the community and quality of life on the island, as families are able to work, put down roots and thrive here.

“The community land trust approach means that OPAL will retain ownership of the land and will lease the land to the owner of the home.

The land lease includes a provision that assures the house is affordable to future buyers.

OPAL is actively looking for suitable houses to move to the other three lots — buildings that are in good condition and can be renovated within the budget.

Other OPAL neighborhoods are at:

• Bonnie Brae
• Lahari Ridge
• Lavender Hollow Apartments
• Oberon Meadow
• Oberon Wood
• Opal Commons
• Reddick Farmhouse and Apartments
• Wild Rose Meadow

OPAL has also installed its homes on Madrona Street and in  “Scattered-Sites.”

OPAL’s project manager is Jeanne Beck. She can be reached at 376-3191.