OPAL pursues purchase of rental housing on Crosswind Lane

||| FROM QASIM ALI DINO for OPAL |||   

OPAL recently entered into a purchase and sale agreement to acquire eight two-bedroom rental homes on Crosswind Lane in Eastsound. The current owners of the property, Tom Keel, his son Luke Keel and Tom’s partner Tina Leavitt, approached
OPAL because they want the property to continue providing year-round affordable housing for islanders in perpetuity. In their proposal to OPAL, they stated their trust in OPAL to ensure that the current renters are not displaced and that subsequent renters will have stability.

OPAL’s trustees and staff members take that trust seriously and, if successful in purchasing the property, will honor Tom, Luke and Tina’s vision. Current renters will be able to remain and OPAL will maintain the property for current and future generations.

The purchase is conditioned upon an inspection of the property with no surprises that would make the acquisition unwise, and OPAL receiving sufficient donations to buy the property and to make repairs identified in the inspection. The inspection is scheduled for mid-June. OPAL’s goal is to fund the purchase solely with private contributions so that the property may by rented by households with moderate and middle incomes.

With a commitment from an anonymous donor who wishes to support OPAL’s work to develop affordable housing plus the current owners donating , one of the eight homes, OPAL is already well on its way to being able to purchase the property achieving this funding goal.

To learn more or help fund the purchase, contact OPAL Executive Director Lisa Byers, lisa@opalclt.org.

OPAL Community Land Trust creates affordable rental and ownership housing that remains affordable for islanders who are not able to afford the high price of real estate on Orcas Island.