PORT ANGELES — The majority of housing in a Gales Addition subdivision will be constructed by the Peninsula Housing Authority’s Mutual Self-Help Program following approval next week from the Clallam County Commissioners.
The three commissioners are set to approve plans for the second phase of the subdivision at East Seventh Avenue during their July 11 meeting, following a brief discussion Monday.
The location of the subdivision sits on the line between Port Angeles city limits and unincorporated Clallam County, calling for input from both jurisdictions and allowing for the extension of city water and sewer utilities into the subdivision.
The subdivision has 13 lots, six of which will be developed into single-family homes and another six into townhouses. The remaining lot is set to be developed into a 25-unit apartment complex on the south side of East Seventh Avenue.
Peninsula Housing Authority (PHA) is waiting for two more qualified applicants to apply for the Mutual Self-Help Program to begin construction, said Doni Thomason, PHA loan packager and program coordinator.
“The townhomes and the single-family homes are part of our Mutual Self-Help Program, and construction for those will begin as soon as we have all 12 applicants that are eligible for USDA loans and close on those loans,” Thomason said.
The Mutual Self-Help Housing Program is supported by grants and funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help organizations like PHA carry out local construction projects during which the applicants put in a minimum of 32 hours in sweat equity to build their own and others’ homes.
“When we form a group, we have to have a full group of applicants that will qualify for the loan from USDA used to pay for the construction,” Thomason said.
There is an income cap in Clallam County of $63,000 annually for a four-member household and $71,000 for a five- to eight-member household, Thomason said.
“HUD recently increased their income limitations for their housing programs because it’s seeing this kind of 10 to 15 percent increase in various construction costs, and we’re hoping that USDA is going to follow suit soon,” Thomason said. “Hopefully in the next month or two, we will see an increase in our income limitations for our program as well.”
Most of the houses in the Seventh Avenue subdivision will be two- and three-bedroom floor plans as there is no lot large enough for a four-bedroom home under a USDA loan.
The USDA loans cover the cost of land purchase, materials, and subcontractors who are hired for specialty work.
“That keeps the overall costs low for our applicants and their families and the volunteers doing the majority of the labor involved in constructing these homes,” Thomason said.
Actual costs will depend on the loan amounts and housing designs approved by both PHA and USDA.
Thomason said the proposed apartment complex will be constructed by a different program through a separate department within the PHA.
Phase one of the subdivision made way for the Eklund Heights apartments and 10 single-family residential lots on the north side of the street.
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Reporter Ken Park can be reached at kpark@peninsuladailynews.com.
