A planned low-income housing development in Oak Harbor was recently awarded a $3.7 million grant from the state, but more funds will be needed before construction can begin.
The Washington State Department of Commerce is providing the grant for Mulberry Village, which is owned by the county and will be managed by the Opportunity Council, a regional nonprofit. The project is one of 1,200 affordable housing projects that received grants.
The Mulberry Village project is expected to provide 80 units of housing for hardworking Island County families when complete, Greg Winters, Opportunity Council executive director, wrote in an email. The project will likely be a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units in a collection of two-story apartments.
While the money from the Department of Commerce is “deeply appreciated,” Winters said, it is not enough to begin construction. He anticipates one more year of funding applications to several state government agencies and private funders before they can start.
Winters expects another significant award of funds in the spring, which will mean construction may begin mid-2026.
Mulberry Village is located at 1215 Southwest Swantown Ave. on 5.6 acres and is being developed as a planned residential development, according to the city of Oak Harbor. The county named Shelter Resources to develop the project.
Mulberry Village will be very similar to the Camas Flats project that is currently under construction on 10th Avenue, he said. Camas Flats received $7 million in funding from the Department of Commerce and $3.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds through the county.
Camas Flats should be complete by the end of 2025 with leasing to begin immediately after, he said.
The funds are part of a statewide initiative to prioritize housing for residents earning 30% or less of the area median income, according to the press release.
“The Washington Legislature made a historic investment in the Housing Trust Fund in the 2023-2025 Capital Budget that is growing the capacity of our housing partners ready to deliver thousands of new affordable housing units across every region of the state,” said Department of Commerce Director Joe Nguyễn. “Housing affordability and availability, especially for some of our most vulnerable communities, is an ongoing challenge, and remains a top priority for our work with the Legislature, local governments and affordable housing developers and service providers.”