PORT TOWNSEND — Design firms have unveiled two options for a proposed affordable housing project in Port Townsend, and several features have been included based on community feedback.
Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) is leading the effort to build a $16 million, 44-unit complex at the corner of Seventh and Hendricks streets, and organizers held their second of two open houses Tuesday, which about two dozen people attended.
Suzanne Davis, the director of community outreach for Third Place Design Cooperative, said her team was looking for more direction on whether to move forward with a modern shed-style roof or a more traditional steeple style.
The majority of the comments provided Tuesday and at June’s open house attended by about 50 people, were for the more modern look.
“OlyCAP has a series of things they need to do, but they were very interested in getting us involved with the community early on in the process so we could capture what they want in some of the key features,” Davis said. “That helps guide the track we will go on.”
The schematic designs showed a two-story structure with mixed uses, an early childhood education center on the ground floor along with opportunities for home office spaces, plus apartment homes with one, two and three bedrooms on the top floor.
Two other firms, Terrapin Architecture of Port Townsend and Ally Community Development of Seattle, also are working on the project.
Kathy Morgan, OlyCAP’s director of housing and community development, said the agency is facing a Sept. 18 deadline to apply for a state Housing Trust Fund grant. OlyCAP will seek $3 million, according to budget documents, and Morgan expects to hear a decision by December.
Additional funding sources are projected to be about $10.3 million in private investments through an IRS tax credit program, $2 million from a bank loan, $500,000 from Federal Home Loan Bank, $491,000 from the state Community Capital Facilities program through Early Learning, $164,000 from OlyCAP and $400,000 in local donations, contributions and grants, budget documents stated.
Jefferson County currently owns the land, but County Commissioner Greg Brotherton said a public process is scheduled this month to declare the land surplus and either sell or lease it to OlyCAP.
“Right now, we’re doing a lot of due diligence on our own,” Brotherton said. “So far, the public response has been overwhelmingly positive, but we still need to go through the public process to make the property available.”
Brotherton said affordable housing is an issue of high importance, and this project could bring “real change.”
The public got its first glimpse of the proposal in June, when attendees were asked to place stickers on poster boards that showed design concepts they preferred.
Those preferences took shape with schematics that favored a number of factors, including childcare entry and classrooms set back from the front of the street.
A majority also preferred the angled shed roof, a semi-private play area and a sidewalk with large planters.
On the exterior, design options favored saturated colors with large windows for natural daylight and sustainable siding materials.
“We have to be able to trust the fact that the community knows what they want to see,” Davis said. “We’re happy, proud and pleased to be part of this project.”
Brotherton added the location already is in a good position for long-term infrastructure. The site is next to the offices for the county public health department and the department of community development.
It’s also about a block away from Jefferson Healthcare hospital, with access to Jefferson Transit.
“It’s the highest and best use for the property right now,” Brotherton said.
OlyCAP Executive Director Dale Wilson said he has the same concerns others might have about the project, particularly its cost.
The agency has another piece of property they would have preferred to develop for this purpose, but the area isn’t zoned for it, he said.
Morgan said long-term goals and energy efficiency standards also have an impact.
“This has to be sustainable for 60 to 80 years,” she said.
Both have been open to public feedback, and Wilson said he would talk with anyone individually about their concerns.
“This is very modern, and it fits into the area right there,” Morgan said.
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Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.
