Upper Valley MEND cuts ribbon on two affordable homes

LEAVENWORTH — Nearly a year after breaking ground, Upper Valley MEND and partners cut the ribbon on two brand-new, permanently affordable homes in Leavenworth on July 8.

The duplex project adds two three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom homes to the community, which will be sold at below market rates. According to Upper Valley MEND Executive Director Kaylin Bettinger, both homes already have two families lined up to buy.

“Both of them work locally in Leavenworth. Both happen to have kids, and those kids will be in the Cascade School District,” said Bettinger. “They're important members of our community, so it really does make a difference, all of the work that you guys have put in to make this happen.”

The homes are part of Upper Valley MEND's homeownership program, which uses a Community Land Trust (CLT) model to ensure long-term affordability. When homeowners sell, the homes will remain affordable for all future owners.

“This project really felt like kismet. We've actually been renting a house, literally just down the street, and we could see this property from our kitchen. So we got to really watch it be built and come alive,” said future homeowner Sam Wade.

Sam and Jermaine Wade said they expect to close on one of the homes this August. The Wades had been looking for a house to buy for years, but were unable to afford what was available. This opportunity allows the young family to stay in a community they have called home for over a decade.

“Just to be a part of a community that supports each other and supports programs like this, just feels really great,” said Wade, expressing gratitude for the project partners. “Thank you for all creating a community that we're so happy to be a part of. This is so much more than just a home to us. This is a chance to really lay down some roots.”

The project was a culmination of Upper Valley MEND’s Solid Foundations Campaign. The fundraising campaign originally planned to raise $6.8 million for the purchase of 31 affordable apartments from the Marson family. Then, the nonprofit surpassed its fundraising goal by half a million dollars, and the Marson family surprised the organization with the donation of its lot on W. Commercial Street.

With support from the community, city, county and state, Upper Valley MEND was able to build the duplex, adding the first units to the affordable homeownership program in 20 years, according to Bettinger.

The nonprofit partnered with Simplicity by Hayden Homes, which offers predesigned plans for low-cost building. Bettinger estimated that Upper Valley MEND spent about 60 percent of what it would cost to work with a custom builder and architect.

“This is what Simplicity was founded on, and this is what Simplicity continues to strive for. We want to keep building for projects like this,” said spokesperson Scott Meyers, adding that the cost of the vertical construction was about $169 per square foot.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media