WEEKEND HANGOUT – Gina Lusher, foreground right, and other Sitka Cirque aerialists rehearse Thursday night for this weekend’s show, Cirque Noir, at the 207 Smith Street studio. The show includes cage dancers, live music and champagne. Kids from first grade through high school will have a separate fundraiser showcase event Saturday afternoon from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tickets for both shows are available online at sitkacirque.com. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

Land Trust Protests Park Service Action
08 Dec 2023 16:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY Sentinel Staff Writer Ongoing construction of a stretch of Sitka’s sea walk a [ ... ]

Sitkans Give Opinions on Tourism Policy Details
08 Dec 2023 15:53

By SHANNON HAUGLAND Sentinel Staff Writer Sitka Tourism Task Force’s second open house drew more [ ... ]

Two STRs, Food Truck Approved by Planners
08 Dec 2023 15:51

By ARIADNE WILL Sentinel Staff Writer The Planning Commission unanimously approved three condition [ ... ]

Tillie Paul Manor Open House Sunday to Highlight H...
08 Dec 2023 15:49

By Sentinel Staff Sitkans can get a glimpse into a chapter of local history at an open house 1 to 3 [ ... ]

Feds May Back Tribal Suit on SE Fishing
08 Dec 2023 13:23

By NATHANIEL HERZ Northern Journal The Biden administration could jump into a high-profile lawsuit [ ... ]

December 8, 2023, Police Blotter
08 Dec 2023 13:20

Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today: December 7 A woman asked police to help [ ... ]

December 8, 2023, Community Happenings
08 Dec 2023 13:19

Climate Connection: Outdoor and Indoor strong style="font-size: 12.16px; line-height: 1.3em;">Carbon Dioxide Carbon dioxide (CO2) is formed from burning  [ ... ]

'Sellers Market' Cited As Housing Problem
07 Dec 2023 14:49

By GARLAND KENNEDY Sentinel Staff Writer Two housing professionals –– a banker and a real esta [ ... ]

Fairbanks Vet is New Science Center Director
07 Dec 2023 14:48

By SHANNON HAUGLAND Sentinel Staff Writer Sitka Sound Science Center has announced that Arleigh Re [ ... ]

Outer Coast Students Join in Telling of Tales
07 Dec 2023 14:46

By SHANNON HAUGLAND Sentinel Staff Writer Students from Outer Coast will take the stage at Sitka T [ ... ]

Alaska Tribes Urge BLM to Protect Lands
07 Dec 2023 14:44

By JOAQLIN ESTUS Alaska Beacon The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will soon issue an Environmenta [ ... ]

December 7, 2023, Community Happenings
07 Dec 2023 14:39

Boat Parade Dates Listed Sitka’s annual boat parade is planned to go north on Sunday, Dec. 17, a [ ... ]

Best Tourism Limit New Town Hall Goal
06 Dec 2023 14:20

By SHANNON HAUGLAND Sentinel Staff Writer The Sitka Tourism Task Force and city staff are hoping T [ ... ]

Cirque Noir to Offer Champagne from Above
06 Dec 2023 14:19

By GARLAND KENNEDY Sentinel Staff Writer Aerial performances on silks, a champagne chandelier and  [ ... ]

SE Students Gather For DDF Tourney
06 Dec 2023 14:18

By Sentinel Staff The Sitka High drama, debate and forensics team invites the community to watch So [ ... ]

December 6, 2023, Police Blotter
06 Dec 2023 13:43

Police Blotter Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today: December 5 At 12:51 p.m [ ... ]

December 6, 2023, Community Happenings
06 Dec 2023 13:40

David Williams Jr. Dies in N. Carolina Sitka resident David Grayson Williams Jr., 61, passed away  [ ... ]

New Warming Shelter Aids Sitka's Homeless
05 Dec 2023 15:31

By SHANNON HAUGLAND Sentinel Staff Writer With winter weather on the way, the Sitka Homeless Coali [ ... ]

Wrestlers Compete, Prepare for Region V
05 Dec 2023 13:33

By GARLAND KENNEDY Sentinel Sports Editor With only days to go before the Region V wrestling tourn [ ... ]

Police Council Rejects Lowering Officer Age
05 Dec 2023 13:29

By CLAIRE STREMPLE Alaska Beacon The Alaska Police Standards Council voted down a regulation chang [ ... ]

Ethics Complaints Against Two Legislators Dismisse...
05 Dec 2023 13:28

By ANDREW KITCHENMAN Alaska Beacon The body charged with policing the ethics of members of the Ala [ ... ]

Data: Maternal Mortality Rate, DV Linked
05 Dec 2023 13:23

By CLAIRE STREMPLE Alaska Beacon Charlene Apok sat in front of multiple computer monitors in an An [ ... ]

December 5, 2023, Community Happenings
05 Dec 2023 13:20

Winter Tumbling Registration Open Registration is open for winter tumbling programming at recreati [ ... ]

December 5, 2023, Police Blotter
05 Dec 2023 11:16

Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today: December 4 At 8:44 a.m. a two-car accid [ ... ]

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

______________________

 

AK COVID-19

At a Glance

(updated 9-12-2023)

By Sentinel Staff

The state Department of Health and Social Services has posted the following update on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Alaska as of 8:57 a.m. Tuesday, September 12.

New cases as of Tuesday: 278

Total cases (cumulative) statewide – 301,513

Total (cumulative) deaths – 1,485

Case Rate per 100,000 – 38.14

To visit the Alaska DHSS Corona Response dashboard website click here.

COVID in Sitka

The Sitka community level is now "Low.'' Case statistics are as of Tuesday.

Case Rate/100,000 – 152.50

Cases in last 7 days – 13

Cumulative Sitka cases – 3,575

Deceased (cumulative) – 10

The local case data are from Alaska DHSS.

 

______________________

 

 

20 YEARS AGO

December 2003

The Sawmill Cove Industrial Park board of directors endorsed a final contract tuesday for the city to sell a minimum of 40 million gallons of reservoir water per year to an export company based in New York City. ... under the contract Quest would have the right to purchase up to 1 billion gallons of water per year at 1 cent per gallon

 

50 YEARS AGO

December 1973

 The City and Borough of Sitka conducted a community public opinion poll evaluating municipal services and facilities. ... The overall results gave this priority order: 1. roads and highways; 2. water and sewer; 3. downtown parking; 4. garbage collection and disposal; 5. hospital and medical facilities; 6. planning and zoning; 7. boat harbors.

Calendar

Local Events

Instagram

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Instagram!

Facebook

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Facebook!