Repurposing the golf course for recreation purposes makes a lot of sense. However, recreation does not have to be an exclusive use. Dedicating a small corner of the freed-up land to affordable housing would greatly benefit our community, while hardly interfering with recreational uses.

Affordable housing is of paramount concern in our community for economic and humanitarian reasons. Ten acres out of the 56 golf course acres could accommodate at least 150 closely-spaced, small single-family houses with some space for community facilities: a viable housing development. The remaining 46 acres would be available for recreation and other possible uses.

The houses would be more affordable, if they included townhouses and low-rise apartments, as desired by the city. That would really boost the quantity of affordable housing. This housing could be built in a clump along any of the streets surrounding the golf course. 

Near the intersection of F and San Juan recommends itself, since there already is some development at the corner that is not part of the golf course property.

Why put housing here? The proposed 10 acres would allow for a substantial affordable housing development. Are there comparable sized, city-owned properties? The four surrounding streets are major roads and are likely to already have utilities, reducing the development cost. 

Also, because the land is already owned by the city there is no land cost, typically 1/3 of total development costs, a situation not shared by many other sites being looked at. 

Housing on the golf course property would enjoy high accessibility. Within a one mile radius are transit service, stores, services and the high school and middle schools.

Fred Nussbaum
PORT TOWNSEND