Ven a la Reunión Anual de OPAL el 26 de abril

Join us on Thursday, April 26 for OPAL’s annual meeting and potluck at the Episcopal Church Parish Hall in Eastsound.

At 5:00 p.m., enjoy hors d’oeuvres, business meeting, election of renewing trustees, and a presentation on new rental housing and the new Island Loan Fund.

We also will honor retiring Trustee Penny Sharp Sky.

At approximately 6:00 p.m., OPAL will provide soup and bread. Please bring your own place setting. If you care to, bring a potluck item, your choice of salad, dessert or appetizer.

OICF pledges $250k to April’s Grove housing development | $450,000 in pledges still needed by January

Click here to read the entire story by Colleen Armstrong, The Islands’ Sounder.

OPAL Community Land Trust’s 45-unit rental project is inching its way closer to completion thanks to a major donation from the Orcas Island Community Foundation.

After an in-depth assessment and board discussion, the foundation chose to pledge $250,000 to the April’s Grove development on North Beach Road. The money is from a legacy gift left by the late Bob Henigson, and is contingent upon all other funds for the project being in place.

“This is 10 times bigger than anything we have done,” said OICF Director Hilary Canty. “We see housing as a critical need in this community. The OPAL project is shovel ready: they have the land and the plans. They just need the money.”

The land trust also needs to collect $450,000 in pledges and/or donations by Jan. 15, 2018 in order to make the deadline for its Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit application. OPAL has budgeted a total of $1.3 million in funds from private donations, and if the state legislature does not adopt a capital budget, that amount will increase to $3.1 million. The tax credit program requires 50 percent of private donations to be raised or pledged by the application deadline. Donors can give now or have until 2021 to pay. Pledges can be made online at www.opalclt.org, by email opalclt@opalclt.org or by calling 360-376-3191.

OPAL Recaps Busy Year, Honors Lisa Byers at 2016 Annual Meeting

Following a recap of OPAL Community Land Trust’s activities in 2015 and the election and recognition of new and retiring trustees, a highlight of OPAL’s 26th annual meeting on April 26 was the surprise celebration of Lisa Byers’ 20 years of leadership as executive director..

“Lisa became executive director of OPAL in 1996,” said co-founder and trustee Penny Sharp Sky, who told the story of first meeting Byers back East through mutual friends and encouraging her to move to Orcas.

“Over the past two decades Lisa’s hard work and devotion to the people and life of this island have been extraordinary,” said Sky. “She has helped make possible every one of the 114 affordable houses and apartments that OPAL has added since she arrived.”

More than 70 islanders packed the Episcopal Parish Hall for OPAL’s annual review of affordable housing activities. Byers reported that in 2015 OPAL moved, renovated and sold to new owners five “recycled” houses from Orcas, Seattle, Poulsbo and Belfair. In addition, OPAL staff facilitated the resale of seven other OPAL homes.

New homeowners include islanders who work in restaurants, retail, carpentry, photography, education and social service.

It was reported that last year 360 households and businesses supported OPAL with contributions of $302,469. In addition, OPAL was awarded grants of $166,461 from federal, state, county and private foundation sources.

“Last year was also significant in that OPAL received more than $1.5 million in bequests from strong, steadfast supporters,” said Byers. “Those dollars were added to OPAL’s endowment to secure the organization’s long-term sustainability.”

Out-going trustees Rollie Sauer, Suzanne Olson and Douglas Ellis were recognized and thanked for their many contributions.

Anne Bertino, a member of OPAL’s building committee, was elected to her first three-year term as a trustee. She brings experience in green building and design, energy efficient systems, and interior space planning.

Helen Bee, who heads the OPAL fundraising committee, and previously served as a trustee for nine years, was welcomed back to the board after term-limiting off last year.

Board president Bob Gamble and trustee Vicki Brems were re-elected to three-year terms.

Incorporated in 1989, OPAL serves 132 rental and ownership Orcas Island households and continues to accept applications from people who are not able to purchase a house in the traditional market. For more information, go to: www.opalclt.org or call (360) 376-3191.