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Housing Resources Board Ferncliff Update
| May, 2010
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Greetings!
The Ferncliff Update is our way of keeping the community informed about the progress of the Housing Resources Board Ferncliff Community Land Trust development,
Happy Spring! It is so exciting to see trees blooming, the sun showing itself a little more, and to enjoy the daylight a little longer each day! First, I would like to introduce myself to you. I am the new Client Services Manager at Housing Resources Board and in the coming months, I will be working with our potential homeowners in the Ferncliff Community Land Trust development. I will also be providing these periodic updates about Ferncliff and our progress.
You can find more information about Ferncliff, including some frequently asked questions, on our website. If you know of someone who may be interested in applying for homeownership in Ferncliff, or perhaps who is a neighbor in the Ferncliff area, please pass this information along and have them sign up to receive the updates directly. Of course, if you are not interested in receiving these notices, please feel free to safely unsubscribe at the bottom of the newsletter.
This update addresses many of the current activities regarding this project; however, you may still have more unanswered questions. If so, please feel free to call me at (206) 842.1909, ext 7.
Here at HRB, we are excited and continuing to move forward with the Ferncliff Community Land Trust project!
Sincerely,
Phedra Elliott
Client Services Manager
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City Permitting Process
Over the
past several months, HRB has been working with the City of
Bainbridge Island (COBI) to have Ferncliff approved as an HDDP (Housing Design
Demonstration Project) and this was completed successfully in early March. As Ferncliff is the first development to
apply for HDDP status, it took a little extra time to work through the process
and make some alterations to our plans with Kriegh Architects, COBI Planners,
and the Design Review Board.
In case you
aren't familiar with HDDP, COBI passed this ordinance in 2009 as an incentive for developers to
provide innovative, affordable and sustainable projects. It was developed with
input from HRB and other housing developers. The HDDP ordinance requires low impact design, green building features,
and that a portion of the development be affordable housing, in exchange for
incentives such as increased density and reduced set backs.
We are now
ready to submit our plans to COBI for the site plan review, the conditional use
permit, and building permits to begin the infrastructure work on
Ferncliff. Infrastructure consists of
putting in the roads and utilities. HRB is hopeful this permitting process will only take from 4-6
months. This public process will involve a
number of public meetings and hearings, and we will be sure to post information about these meetings on our website and encourage you to attend.
Because of
the type of soil and the grade of the land at the Ferncliff site, our
geo-technical reports require that infrastructure work begin only in the dry
season (April - October), therefore we anticipate that this work will begin in
spring of 2011.
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Project Timeline
Setting timelines for a community development project like Ferncliff is inherently challenging. With all the planning, permitting and funding elements, timelines are consistently being adjusted -- it's just the nature of development. The timeline for Ferncliff consists of three phases.
Timeline for Ferncliff:
The Ferncliff project will be developed in three phases. We will be breaking ground in 2011 on phase one. Phase two and three will follow. The north 3 acres of the property are scheduled to be donated to HRB in 2013.
Stages of Development
It may be helpful to know what the different stages of property development entail. All projects are unique; however, here is a general idea of how we see this project progressing:
Pre-construction:
Pre-design Design Civil Work Permitting Pre-application process
HDDP approval
Conditional Use Permit approval
Site plan approval (public meetings will be held)
Building approval (public meetings will be held)
Infrastructure (streets, sewer, grading, etc.)
Construction of structures
Occupancy approval from City
Throughout all stages of the project HRB will continue to find funding sources and conduct ongoing outreach for homeowner applicants.
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Do you Want to Own a Home in the Ferncliff Project?
Do you work or rent on Bainbridge but can't afford to buy a home here? You may qualify as a homebuyer for the Ferncliff project. HRB is accepting applications for these two and three bedroom homes. All the homes at Ferncliff will be sold at below-market prices and will be part of HRB's community land trust (CLT). If you are on the waitlist for a home in Ferncliff, we
need to know if you are still interested in purchasing a home. We know that your life situation may have changed since you attended the orientation and turned in the
pre-application. Please contact Phedra
Elliott by phone at (206)
842-1909, ext 7 or email her no later than May 15th if you are
interested in moving forward with homeownership in the Ferncliff project. If you are interested in a home in Ferncliff and are not on our waiting list, more
Ferncliff Orientation sessions will be scheduled throughout the rest of
2010. The next orientation
is scheduled for: Wednesday, May 12th
at 6pm
at Housing
Resources Board
250 Madrona Way, Ste 110-B
Those working on the island and/or current residents will be given wait list preference and are strongly encouraged to apply. Contact HRB to learn more and sign up for an orientation on the Ferncliff CLT homeownership process. The criteria for selection is broad and dependent on several aspects including position on the waitlist, credit checks, and pre-approval for financing, to name just a few. |
Fundraising for Ferncliff
From a
financial perspective, all of the funding is in place for infrastructure. At this point in time, most of the funds are
in place for the construction of Phase 1 of Ferncliff (16 homes), With over one million dollars already raised through private donations, grants and corporate contributions; we are in the process of securing additional funds for phase 2 and 3. We plan to raise this capital through grants, and an upcoming capital campaign.
If you are interested in helping with the Ferncliff fundraising efforts, let us know! And donations are always welcome!
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Upcoming Events
Come hear more about Sustainable Affordable Homeownership at Sustainable Bainbridge's First Monday Event! Architect Julie Kriegh will be there to present the Ferncliff Development, and joining her will be HRB Board member Charlie Wenzlau, presenting another sustainable affordable HRB project, The Sparrows. Don't miss it! Monday, June 7th
From 7 pm to 9 pm
Bainbridge Island Commons
402 Brien Drive
Free
More information available at Sustainable Bainbridge. |
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About Housing Resources Board
250 Madrona Way NE, Suite 110-B
Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110
Housing Resources Board
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