NEWS

Sun Rise
forever affordable homes
Now Under Construction

March 22, 2010

January 13, 2010 was the date of the official groundbreaking for Sun Rise, with the construction of 14 new permanently affordable homes currently underway.  An unseasonably warm and dry January and February have provided ideal conditions for the dirt work, and progress is well underway and ahead of schedule on extending Grover Street and installing utilities.

Fourteen homes, ranging in size from one to four bedrooms, will be constructed. Twelve of the homes are reserved for households at or below 80% of Area Median Income, and will be priced to be affordable.  Grant funds have been secured to provide the subsidies needed to serve this income group, and mortgage payments can be no more than one third of a household’s income.

As a community land trust (CLT), the Home Trust’s emphasis is on permanent affordability. Subsidies are passed from the first buyer on through successive buyers rather than providing a windfall for the first buyer. Land is owned by the CLT, while the home is sold to the buyer along with a leasehold interest in the land.  A restriction on the resale price is contained in the lease, and the homes have a 99-year, renewable lease on the land.

Two of the homes will be sold to households between 80 and 120% of AMI without the benefit of grant subsidies, and sold at a higher price. Interest is strong, and applications are still being accepted by the Home Trust. If you (or someone you know) is renting, cannot afford to purchase a home on San Juan Island, have decent credit and a steady income, you (or they) may qualify. Call 378-5541 for more information.

The homes will include a variety of green features, including solar hot water heaters, bamboo flooring, and wastewater treatment provided by a Living Machine. Wastewater will be treated and pumped back to the homes for reuse in toilets, thus drastically reducing the amount of potable water to be utilized by the homeowners. The homes will be hooked up to town water, but not to the town’s sewer system. Sewage will be handled on-site by the Living Machine.

The Living Machine  is a wastewater treatment system that:

• Is capable of achieving tertiary treatment;:
• Costs less to operate than conventional systems when used to achieve a tertiary level of treatment; and
• Doesn’t require chemicals that are harmful to the environment as a part of its treatment process

The homes will be constructed by Wellman and Zuck, utilizing many local subcontractors. Islanders Bank is providing construction financing.

These fourteen homes are the first phase homes to be constructed on land that was annexed in 2009 by the Town of Friday Harbor. The Home Trust can eventually build 120 permanently affordable homes on 15 acres of Multifamily-zoned land.

In memory: Richard Lawson

The Home Trust honors Richard Lawson, whose construction company is working on constructing the infrastructure for Sun Rise. Lawson passed away on January 26, 2010. His company has continued work without interruption, under the leadership of his son, Tommy Lawson.

Richard will be remembered as a man who gave back to the community in many ways. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family, and to his employees.