Purchase of Property at 2nd & DeBruyn in Langley Finalized
March 30, 2023
The two parcels, sold to Goosefoot at favorable terms by former residents Cally and JR Fulton, will be used for the development of affordable rental housing.
the City of Langley to be used for affordable housing. Pictured l-r: Heather Campbell, Escrow
Assistant; Christa Canell, Branch Manager; Cat Collyer, Limited Practice Officer; Chris
Salomone, Goosefoot Board President; Cally Fulton; and Elise Miller, Goosefoot Executive
Director.
Text taken from press release dated March 29, 2023
In March of last year, former Langley residents Cally and JR Fulton approached Goosefoot Community Fund with a unique proposal: that the organization purchase two lots they owned in the City of Langley on very favorable terms. In turn, Goosefoot would commit to banking the land for the development of affordable housing.
Goosefoot, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, with long-standing concerns about the cost of housing and lack of rental units on South Whidbey, didn’t take long to get to yes. With two anonymous donors contributing half of the $600,000 purchase price, the Fultons gave Goosefoot one year—until the end of March 2023— to raise the remaining balance. The funds needed to seal the deal are coming from a $1.1 million grant awarded to Goosefoot by Island County through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) earlier this year. The remaining grant amount will enable substantial pre-construction work to get started while permanent financing is secured. Goosefoot’s Housing Group, a steering committee of locals with relevant professional expertise, is in the process of selecting architects, and plans are under way to engage community input for initial schematic designs, including from those who need this type of housing.
“This is a long time coming for South Whidbey,” according to Elise Miller, Goosefoot’s executive director. “We’re honored to be trusted by individual land owners, community donors, and our local government to make sure new affordable rental housing is built.”
The 2nd & DeBruyn apartments will be geared toward multi-generational living, with 2- and 3- bedroom units, and located across from the Generation Park playground. The land is flat and unvegetated, on a sewer system, and within walking distance to the Langley commercial core and bus transit.
“If we’re to have thriving local businesses, we need to ensure working families have affordable housing that’s convenient to public transportation and other services,” Miller noted. “Goosefoot is incredibly grateful to have an opportunity to serve our community in this way.”