Being neighborly
is our thing

Founded in 2001 by a group of passionate community members, the San Juan Community Home Trust was born from a shared vision of creating “permanently affordable” housing to keep our island diverse and thriving. The Trust’s first major success came in 2003 with the creation of the Salal neighborhood, providing 15 homes that remain affordable to this day.

Building on this momentum, the Sun Rise Community was developed in three phases from 2009 to 2018, including the innovative Sun Rise II project, which brought recycled homes from British Columbia to our island. In 2016, the generous donation of the Price Street property paved the way for the HolliWalk neighborhood, completed by 2024.

The Trust is now developing Argyle, our first rental community with up to 40 affordable homes, set to be completed by 2027. Alongside these developments, we’ve also expanded our community engagement through the Summer Music Series and the Home Trust Ride for Housing, both of which help raise awareness and funds to support our mission of ensuring that San Juan Island remains a welcoming home for all.

Over 20 years serving our community

  • A group of dedicated individuals came together to tackle the island's housing challenges, founding the San Juan Community Home Trust. Thanks to the efforts of Lee Sturdivant, Jim Lawrence, Larry Soll, Peter Kilpatrick, and many others, the foundation was laid for the success we enjoy today.

    2001

  • The Home Trust builds its first neighborhood, Salal, on 2.4 acres off Carter Ave. This neighborhood consists of 15 single-family homes that will remain affordable forever.

    2003

  • Larry Soll, a generous community member, founder, and leader within the Home Trust, donates funds to purchase 5 acres of land. This paves the way for the three-phase development of the Sun Rise Community.

    2007

  • Construction begins on Sun Rise I, featuring 14 environmentally sustainable homes centered around a courtyard. These duplexes and triplexes are designed to be both eco-friendly and cost-effective.

    2009-2011

  • Sun Rise II, known as the ultimate recycling project, begins. Homes are recycled and barged from British Columbia, making headlines locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. These unique homes, dating from the early 1900s to the 1940s, are placed in a charming pocket neighborhood of 12 single-family homes.

    2015-2018

  • The Home Trust receives a generous anonymous donation of the Price Street property, which will soon become our fourth permanently affordable neighborhood, HolliWalk.

    2016

  • Longtime director Nancy DeVaux retires, leaving behind a legacy of 37 developed homes and a strong organizational foundation. The Home Trust continues to strengthen its internal systems, expand staff, and build a robust Board of Directors. The Giuliani family donates a parcel of land on MacDonald Street, designated for development into a permanently affordable single-family home.

    2017

  • Planning begins for HolliWalk, initially designed pro bono by local architects John Gresseth and David Waldron. The design aims to exceed state energy codes by 15%, reflecting our commitment to reducing utility bills and combating global warming. With $4M in public and community support, SJCHT plans to start construction in early 2022, creating 4 duplexes with 8 new two-bedroom homes for island families.

    2020

  • In 2023, HolliWalk was completed, welcoming seven out of eight families into their new homes. The Home Trust also began developing Argyle, our first rental community with up to 40 affordable homes, supported by $15 million in public funding, with completion expected by 2027. We also started expanding Sun Rise with 10-14 more homes. To raise awareness, we launched our first Summer Music Series and the Home Trust Ride for Housing, raising $50,000 for affordable housing and establishing a new tradition.

    2023-2024