Port Townsend’s economic stability relies on industries such as maritime trades, hospitality, construction, tourism and public services. However, a lack of affordable, accessible housing has forced many local workers to commute long distances or leave the area entirely. Port Townsend’s history is deeply intertwined with its maritime identity.

Imagine you are walking through a thriving, floating-inspired village, where decommissioned boats — beautifully repurposed — sit on raised platforms like a fleet anchored in time. Sunlight glints off polished hulls, the scent of salt air lingers, and the bustle of small shops blends with the laughter of neighbors. 

This is Port Townsend’s Land Boat Housing District - a place where history, sustainability, and community merge into something truly revolutionary through the adaptive reuse of decommissioned boats—zero demolition waste, minimal land impact

This project proposes an innovative solution to Port Townsend’s housing crisis, focusing on affordable worker-centric housing while preserving and celebrating the city’s maritime heritage. This plan explains the process of accepting donated boats, relocating them into a designated land-based housing district, and establishing a legal and political framework to ensure its viability. 

A unique neighborhood 

This is not just a housing project — it’s a living, breathing celebration of maritime ingenuity. Narrow, winding paths curve between elevated boats, creating intimate communal spaces that feel like an old-world seafaring village. Raised walkways, reminiscent of wooden piers, connect the homes, which protects the fauna and fosters a sense of connectivity and shared purpose.

Small businesses operate out of retrofitted wheelhouses. Cafés, and workshops thrive in once-seafaring vessels, creating an economic ecosystem fueled by innovation and self-sufficiency. 

A community gathering space where boat-builders, artists, and tradespeople display their craft, drawing both locals and visitors to witness the creative pulse of the town.

The district’s uniqueness will also function as a tourist attraction, reinforcing local businesses and furthering economic development.  It will also enhance ethical tourism by creating a uniquely designed, pedestrian-friendly, and one of a kind location that rewards the worker class that tourists need to enjoy their luxury and vacation time. 

Drawing inspiration from Seattle’s houseboat community and alternative housing models, this proposal leverages municipal zoning powers and state housing mandates to ensure compliance while maximizing community and economic benefits. Additionally, this initiative presents the only viable way to create 100 new residences for free, excluding transportation and infrastructure costs, which makes it an unprecedented opportunity for the city.

Homes for workers 

This district is built for the workers who keep Port Townsend running - shipwrights, cooks, craftspeople, teachers, clerks, and caregivers. Here, they find affordable, dignified housing that doesn’t push them out of the town they love. No longer forced into long commutes, they now live among friends, within walking distance of work, the marina, and the historic downtown - their reasonable income finally awarded with the fairness a life can be built upon. 

Each boat-home is uniquely adapted, retaining elements of its seafaring past. Hanging lights are stretched bow to bow. Creating a magical atmosphere filled with curious families on their day off.  Residents live in functional, efficient spaces, insulated and modified for comfort while maintaining the charm and craftsmanship of classic maritime vessels.

This isn’t just a housing project — it’s a proof of concept, a model that cities across the world will study and replicate. Waste-conscious infrastructure, solar energy integration, water reclamation, and shared resource hubs set a new standard for how urban spaces can be built with minimal impact.

Creative urban design

It will be a village that runs on collective responsibility, where every resident is a steward of their home, the land, and the historic traditions that made Port Townsend what it is.

In ten years, this district will be known as a landmark of creative urban planning, a success story of adaptive reuse, and a beacon of sustainable housing done right.

The plan prioritizes a emergency-habitability-first mindset, allowing rapid placement of residents while regulatory infrastructure catches up. A grace period will be established to ensure substandard dwellings are brought into compliance.

It starts here. It starts now. Welcome to the Land Boat Housing District.

Galen Goodwick recently addressed city officials in open session about using boats for housing on land. This is an excerpt from his business proposal for the Land Boat Housing District.