Groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 26 for Skagit Habitat homes project

Building affordable housing in La Conner is a groundbreaking development, worthy of celebration.

Skagit Habitat for Humanity will break ground at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at its Caledonia Cottages Project at Third and Caledonia streets. The public is invited.

The community event will celebrate the construction of three affordable single-family homes in La Conner with the families selected through the non-profit housing organization's Homebuyer Program.

"This is a huge moment not just for these homebuyers, but for our entire community," said Skagit Habitat for Humanity Chief Executive Officer Tina Tate. "The groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of a new journey for these homebuyers and celebrates the generosity of the people of Skagit County who made this happen."

Tate told the Weekly News on Friday that the local project is part of Skagit Habitat's long-range goal of developing more affordable housing opportunities.

"There is a housing shortage in Skagit County as well as the rest of the state and even the whole country," she said, "but homeownership is particularly difficult for many families that make less than 80% of the area median income.

"We've talked to many of the neighbors near the site and there has been a lot of positive response," Tate said. "I want to thank the community of La Conner for embracing Skagit Habitat and we hope we can partner with the community to do more projects."

Skagit Habitat for Humanity's Homebuyer Program helps local families build and buy a home they can afford. Selected families pay a monthly mortgage based on their income and contribute "sweat equity" hours alongside construction professionals and volunteers.

Homebuyers for the Caledonia Cottages Project were chosen in an extensive application process in which they were income-qualified at 60% to 80% of the area's median income. They also demonstrated a need for safe and affordable housing due to either living in substandard housing or paying 50% or more of their income toward rent.

Families selected for the new homes will be introduced during the Oct. 26 program, said Skagit Habitat for Humanity Development Director Ian Houben.

"This will be a chance for La Conner to welcome three families to the neighborhood," he said. "This is the first milestone in these homebuyers' path to affordable homeownership. They know what they've signed up for but putting that shovel in the ground where their future home will be makes it that much more real."

The celebration here will include a coffee and snack truck with refreshments available, said Houben. Skagit Habitat leaders and elected officials will speak at the event.

"For us, here at Skagit Habitat, the Caledonia build is just a starting line," Houben said. "We are ramping up our operations to address the need in Skagit County for affordable housing. In 30 years, we've averaged one-and-a-half homes built per year.

"Between these three single-family homes in La Conner and the eight townhome units we just announced in Anacortes," said Houben, "we will complete 11 homes in the next 18 months or so on our way to a goal of 15 homes per year by 2027."

Skagit Habitat Construction Director Scott Fox said work on the three homes he has designed is scheduled to begin within the next three months.

"This is phase one of the Caledonia Cottages Project," he said. "Upon completion of the first three (homes), the second phase will begin. There will be three cottage homes for the next families, bringing the total to six within the next nine to 12 months."

Fox said the homes will have solar systems, fire suppression and passive heating and cooling to reduce energy costs. He expressed optimism that the Caledonia Cottages Project will provide a blueprint for future housing starts.

"We're blessed to have this opportunity with the Town of La Conner and the community," he said. "We hope this is the first of many affordable homes we build in La Conner."

Skagit Habitat has built five homes in the nearby Channel Cove campus on Park Street, south of Caledonia Street.