LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

State's Transportation Plan Gets Federal OK
28 Mar 2024 15:06

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]

New Funding Plan Ahead for Visit Sitka?
28 Mar 2024 15:02

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]

Sitka 'Frankenstein' Puts Classic Tale in New Ligh...
28 Mar 2024 15:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]

State May Los Millions Over Ed Dept. Missteps
28 Mar 2024 14:59

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]

Gov Signs Bill On Internet In State Schools
28 Mar 2024 14:57

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]

Capitol Christmas Tree to Come from Tongass
28 Mar 2024 14:56

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, known for its steep mountains [ ... ]

City League Games Thursday
28 Mar 2024 14:52

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Police Blotter
28 Mar 2024 14:50

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead  [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Community Happenings
28 Mar 2024 14:48

This Week in Girls on the Run By Sitkans Against Family Violence
and The Pathways Coalition
During th [ ... ]

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]

Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]

Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
    A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]

House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

Assembly Advances Affordable Housing

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

The Assembly took its first step Tuesday night toward creating a six-home affordable housing project on the old city shops property.

The vote was 6-0 to approve an ordinance selling the plot at 1306 Halibut Point Road to Sitka Community Development Corporation for $1. The ordinance states that all this, and the other two parcels, 1410 and 1414 HPR, will be dedicated to affordable housing.

The initial project will be to build six affordable homes at 1306 that will be sold to private owners, but with the land remaining in the ownership of the Community Land Trust, established by the SCDC. 

Voting in favor of the ordinance, which will be up for final reading Nov. 24, were Ben Miyasato, Aaron Swanson, Tristan Guevin, Matthew Hunter, Steven Eisenbeisz and Bob Potrzuski. Mayor Mim McConnell recused herself because she is executive director of the nonprofit corporation.

In a 2006 election voters approved a proposition to dedicate the vacant land to affordable housing. A fully designed project for the site by an outside development firm was ready for bid about six years ago, but it failed when the necessary state and federal funding was not awarded.

The ordinance that passed on first reading Tuesday night will allow for six houses to be built on the parcel closest to a veterinary clinic to the south.

Supporters of the plan hope that if this first development is successful, the other parcels will be transferred. 

SCDC President Randy Hughey said today only one parcel is being transferred at this time to allow the corporation to come up with a plan for protecting the future homeowners from a potential slide on the western and northern end of the property. Hughey noted the slide that occurred in the area in 2005.

There was no debate about the ordinance. McConnell said today she’s happy with the vote.

“I was so excited,” she said. “I’m really pleased. It’s been a long time coming. SCDC has been around since 2006, a lot of members have come and gone, and they’ve all been trying to get affordable housing going here. I feel like getting 1306 is the first step closer to having six houses built. It is a huge deal.”

She also likes the structure of the community land trust, in which the title for the land remains in the trust, with the homeowner purchasing only the house.

“I’m excited about getting affordable housing that is permanently affordable on that land,” McConnell said. 

At the Assembly meeting, Hughey said he believes the ordinance will have a “positive impact on affordable housing in Sitka.”

The Assembly approved an amendment that allows the administrator to execute documents necessary to convey “Parcel 1306 subject to final platting of the lot to ensure there is no encroachment of city assets or existing utility easements.”

Miyasato, one of the co-sponsors of the ordinance, said he’s pleased to see the project moving forward.

“It’s been discussed since I ran for Assembly. It’s true we’re losing people because they can’t afford to live here,” he said.

Potrzuski also spoke in favor, saying this will help people remain in the community.

Asked how the project will be funded, Hughey said SCDC is applying for a grant from the Rasmuson Foundation to cover initial development costs, including drainage and utilities.

In a separate project SCDC is building an affordable house on Lillian Drive. It is not yet completed, but it has been listed for sale. McConnell said today there has been some interest, but the house hasn’t sold yet.

Guevin said this project is one piece of the affordable housing issue, and he’s interested in the possibility of affordable rentals as well.

In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, the Assembly:

– dissolved the Tourism Commission and the Strategic Planning Commission.

– appointed Pamela Ash to the Marijuana Advisory Committee. She was among seven applicants for the position. The Assembly separately introduced an ordinance to make the Marijuana Advisory Committee the city’s regulatory authority on marijuana through Feb. 24, 2016.

– appointed Mike Nurco to Port and Harbors Commission, Jeff Arndt to the Health Needs and Human Services Commission, and Hugh Bevan to the Citizens Task Force.

– amended a zoning map to rezone an island just off Galankin Island from General Island to Large Island.

– approved a liquor license renewal for the Bayview Restaurant and Pub, a liquor license ownership transfer to the Bayview, and a liquor license transfer for the Mean Queen at 206 Harbor Drive, the former location of Van Winkle and Son restaurant.

– approved a project to expand the Jarvis Street bulk tank improvement project to include remedies of defects identified after the diesel spill the weekend of August 14.

 

 

You have no rights to post comments

Login Form

 

20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

Calendar

Local Events

Instagram

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Instagram!

Facebook

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Facebook!