Solutions to the housing crisis all too often involve tiny homes and ADUs that can only shelter one or two people at most.

Habitat for Humanity, however, has worked tirelessly to provide families with housing that fits their larger needs. To this end, they’ll be breaking ground for the development of six permanently affordable homes at Landes and 18th streets in Port Townsend.

The six homes at Landes and 18th streets are Habitat EJC’s first multi-family housing development. Designed by Terrapin Architecture, the housing will be a set of three “paired homes,” i.e., duplex style, for a total of six new homes.

Thanks to a new land trust covenant, the Landes Street homes will be permanently affordable, meaning that even if the original homeowner sells the home, a new buyer will be able to purchase the home at an affordable rate.

“We are thrilled to welcome our community to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Landes and 18th Street development,” said Jamie Maciejewski, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County.

“These homes will provide people in our community who can’t afford market rate housing prices a safe and decent place to live. Now is the time to be part of the solution to the affordable housing challenges many individuals and families in our region experience,” Maciejewski said.

The homes on Landes Street, located at the southwest corner of 18th Street and across from Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park, will be “paired homes,” a build style similar to a duplex, with the exception that each home will have its own wall rather than sharing one central wall.

This design feature allows for a small space between the two walls to provide insulation and greater noise reduction. The contemporary style and construction plans minimize waste while adhering to Energy Star and Washington state energy consumption standards.

The six properties will either be two- or three-bedroom homes, depending on the needs of the families selected for the project.

“Children who are different genders don’t have to share bedrooms. The parents would never have to share bedrooms with the children,” said Genevieve Peterson of Habitat East Jefferson County.

“Habitat’s goal is to find reasons to say ‘yes’ to people and help them to get into housing,” Peterson added.

The ceremony is scheduled to occur from 3:30 to
4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14 at Landes and 18th streets. Event attendees will include State Rep. Steve Tharinger, Port Townsend Mayor David Faber, other local public officials, members of Habitat Washington State, and Habitat volunteers, donors, partners, homeowners, board members and staff. The public is also invited.