KEEPING HOMES AFFORDABLE
Affordable Home Ownership
Vashon HouseHold (VHH) has developed or contributed to three affordable homeownership properties (consisting of 38 homes) on the Island at Vashon Co-Housing and in the Roseballen and Sunflower communities, held in our Community Land Trust (CLT). The home price does not include the cost of the land, making the house more affordable to the homeowner. Instead, the homeowner leases the land from the CLT in a long-term, renewable lease. The house appreciates at a pre-calculated rate which keeps it affordable in perpetuity. Learn more about CLTs here.
Roseballen CLT Homes
VHH and Northwest Housing Development, a non-profit partner, provided 19 new affordable homes on 4 acres of land for lower-income, first-time buyers. Homes at Roseballen Community Land Trust are clustered around a common green, part of 12.5 acres of shared, permanently preserved open space. Another 3.5 acres of land are devoted to a community garden and farm.
These homes have purchase prices far below market value. They were made affordable through sweat equity, with families and individuals working together under professional construction supervision. Homeowners qualify for government-subsidized mortgage loans with discounted, sliding-scale interest rates.
Roseballen features quality Craftsman-style homes that range in size from an 849-sq. foot, two-bedroom home to a 1360-sq. foot, 4-bedroom home. Single-car garages offer an additional 336 sq. feet. The homes include hardwood floors, front and back porches, new energy-efficient appliances, wood-faced cabinetry, and natural gas furnaces and ranges. The homes face onto a pedestrian-friendly green-belt with walking paths and shared recreation space.
Roseballen was named for Rose Ballen, one of the original supporters of VHH.
Sunflower
Sunflower Community Land Trust is a neighborhood community of 14 single family homes located just two blocks east of Vashon’s town center off Bank Road, inspired by the small-house movement. These homes are designed to be energy efficient, have minimal environmental impact, and be beautiful and comfortable. VHH created Sunflower so that working families and people with modest incomes could live in the Vashon community.
The homes at Sunflower are clustered to create ample open space. While placed to maximize privacy, the clustering also emphasizes community living. This is a walk-in community featuring centralized parking and shared open space with permeable pedestrian pathways.
These 600-sq. ft. houses are great homes for individuals, single and coupled families with young children, and even downsizing seniors. Each 1 bedroom/1 bath house has a large front porch, extending the generous open living space, and includes a bonus area loft. The fully equipped kitchen opens to the backyard. Each house is built so that a second bedroom could be added in the future.
This community was named for the daughter of a neighbor who died tragically. Her nickname was Sunflower.
Vashon Co—Housing Properties
VHH embarked on its first project in 1995 with funds from King County and the State of Washington to purchase 5 land units. More units were added privately, and the neighborhood has become Vashon Cohousing, an 18-unit, single family neighborhood with a large common house for community meals and other shared activities, clustered on 12 acres.
VHH built 5 of these homes in 1997 and sold them to income-qualified, first-time homebuyers. The homes are fully owned by these families, who are full community members, but a covenant is recorded with the VHH homes so they can only be resold to people whose incomes do not exceed 80% of the area median income. This ensures that the home is always sold below market value to another lower income family.