CLT Project
Dear Editor: The board of directors of the Sitka Community Development Corporation (SCDC) would like to thank the City and Borough of Sitka Assembly for their support of the donation of the small pocket park lot on Lillian Drive to the Sitka Community Land Trust, or CLT, program.
The CLT was recently formed through a grant from the Rasmuson Foundation, with the support of their grant administrator Chris Perez, and the hired consultant Michael Brown of Burlington Associates in Community Development. The diligent, tedious work of preparing legal documents and making difficult decisions was admirably performed by the CLT Committee: Maegan Bosak, Cleo Brylinsky, Randy Hughey, James Poulson, Michael LaGuire, and Mim McConnell.
The SCDC board would also like to thank Stephen Courtright and Melissa Marconi-Wentzel for sharing their stories at the Assembly meetings, and the following community members who have generously made donations: Daniel and Mae Dunsing, Bonnie Brenner, Will Swagel and to all those who purchased and/or donated items at the Building Reuse Center.
Thank you to the following businesses and agencies for their generous donations: Hames Corporation, First Bank, First National Bank Alaska, ALPS Federal Credit Union, Wells Fargo, Ludvig’s Bistro, Silver Bay Seafoods, National Community Land Trust Network, State Division of Economic Development, National Philanthropic Trust, U.S. Coast Guard Spouses’ and Women’s Association, ASRC McGraw Constructors, Sitka Vision Clinic, Allen Marine Tours, Schmolck Mechanical Constructors and Venneberg Insurance.
Thanks also to the following agencies for their support of the CLT solution to permanently affordable housing: Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce, USDA Rural Development, Baranof Island Housing Authority, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, and to the University of Alaska-Sitka Campus for the use of their classrooms for our many teleconferences and web meetings.
The next steps for SCDC are to approve a house design, select a qualified prospective home owner according to the CLT process, coach the home owner through financing, select a builder for the home on Lillian Drive, oversee the building project, and then choose our next project.
With continued community support Sitka’s land trust will help create much-needed affordable housing for generations of Sitkans. Those who are interested in learning more about how to become involved with the Sitka Community Development Corporation’s Community Land Trust may contact Executive Director Mim McConnell at 738-2888 or sitkacdc@gmail.com. Watch for details coming soon in the media and to our website, sitkaaffordablehousing.org, about how to pursue the purchase of a home.
The Board of Directors of Sitka Community Development
Corporation:
Randy Hughey;
Melissa Marconi-Wentzel;
Joshua Houston; Patrick Fowler; Michael LaGuire; James Poulson; Greg Reynolds; Erin Matthes
Solstice Run
Dear Editor: The 9th annual Medvejie Solstice Run was another success. We raised over $2,000 for the Sitka High track and cross country teams.
It would not have been possible without help from many people. Thanks to all of our sponsors: Neurobehavorial Consultants, Foreign Automotive, Schmolck Mechanical, Orion Sporting Goods, Allen Marine, Petro Marine, Christine E. Harrington and Ludvig’s Bistro.
Thanks, JoAnn Huff for providing snacks and drinks for the runners. A big thanks to Sitka Mountain Rescue for staffing all the water stations and providing support along the course, Dean Orbison for sweeping on his bike, Shawn McLeod and the city grounds crew for providing portable toilets, Chris Horan, Cindy Westergaard, Brian Beall, Jeremy Strong, Shasta Smith and Penny Lehmann for helping with social media, registration, and directing runners. Thanks for all those who came out to support the runners and provide cheering support.
See ya next year.
Carolyn Heuer, Murray Lawson,
Medvejie Solstice Run
