February 14, 2015

Podcast: Community Cafe Bainbridge:
Affordable housing is HRB’s mission

<i>Podcast: Community Cafe Bainbridge:</i> <br>Affordable housing is HRB’s mission

BCB Community Cafe Bainbridge Island - 150In this podcast, BCB invites two leaders of HRB — Housing Resources Bainbridge — to discuss one of Bainbridge Island’s most critical and perennial needs, namely, affordable housing.

HRB board member and past president, Charlie Wenzlau, comes to this conversation with the expertise of being a local well-regarded architect, planner, and longtime advocate for enlightened housing policy for our City and community.

The 2013 board of HRB, including our podcast guest, Charlie Wenzlau (2nd from left). The board includes owner and renter reps, plus community reps.
The 2013 board of HRB, including one of our podcast guests, Charlie Wenzlau (2nd from left). The board membership includes owner and renter reps, plus community reps.

Joining Charlie is HRB’s executive director, Mark Blatter, who came to Bainbridge after leading Seattle’s agency for preservation of historic properties and real estate development.

[March 2015 update:  Housing Resources Bainbridge (HRB) was named Nonprofit of the Year by the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber praised its work “to preserve the diversity and vitality of Bainbridge Island by providing housing that individuals and families who are vital to the health of our community can afford.”]

At Housing Resources Bainbridge (formerly named “Housing Resources Board”), the mission is to preserve the diversity and vitality of Bainbridge Island by providing and maintaining affordable housing opportunities in the community.

The front porch of one of HRB's 24 sold-out affordable homes in phase 1 of Ferncliff Village.
The front porch of one of HRB’s 24 sold-out affordable homes in phase 1 of Ferncliff Village.

During this 20-minute conversation, the topics include:

  • Describing HRB and its role
  • Examples of HRB housing-related services
  • A description of HRB’s projects, most especially Ferncliff Village, on 6 acres of land donated by a consciencious Bainbridge resident, where Phase 1 resulted in 24 single-family detached homes being completed in Fall 2013, all of which are now occupied
  • The award-winning housing ordinance adopted by the City Council and advocated by HRB: the Housing Design Demonstration Project (HDDP)
  • A discussion of the City’s 14 acres of undeveloped Suzuki land, at the corner of New Brooklyn and Sportsman Club roads
  • Reasons why HRB considers the Suzuki parcel to be a particularly auspicious site for a project that involves a mix of affordable housing and other uses
  • Ways in which the HRB mission of diversity and community vitality relate to affordable housing
  • The topics addressed by Charlie Wenzlau and Mark Blatter are timely, and focused on critical needs and issues of the Bainbridge community.

Credits:  BCB host, editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.