04/26/2008: "$525K To Home Trust"

San Juan Community Home Trust has been notified that it will receive $525,000 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for its proposed project on the Buck Property in Friday Harbor. The grant will be used to help fund infrastructure costs into the upper 5.1 acres of the Buck property, off of Grover Street and closest to the elementary school.

The award comes from the State’s CDBG Housing Enhancement Program, and is a companion grant to the $600,000 Housing Trust Fund award announced last month. The new award replaces, in the same amount as requested, the CDBG General Purpose fund that was selected by the San Juan County Council as the top priority for San Juan County this year for CDBG funding.

While fundraising for the 5 million dollar project continues, site work cannot begin until completion of the study of Friday Harbor’s utility capacity, due in late July, and subsequent annexation of the Buck parcel.

The Home Trust is progressing with design plans for the new neighborhood. An
eco-charette, facilitated by the Washington State Department of Ecology, will take place on May 6th. A team of professionals focused on Low Impact Development (LID) has been assembled by Building Committee Chair Pete Kilpatrick. Sustainable features including water conservation, rainwater harvesting, on-site water reuse systems, and LID stormwater management techniques such as porous pavements and bio-infiltration facilities are being explored for the new neighborhood.

Applications for homes in the Buck neighborhood, projected to be completed by the end of 2009, are now being accepted by the Home Trust. Eligibility requirements and applications can be found on the website at www.hometrust.org, by dropping by the Home Trust office at 435-C Argyle Avenue or calling 378-5541.