We have initiated a Cortes Community Land Trust!
The idea behind the newly formed Cortes Community Land Trust is that instead of only building new structures, which given the high price of new construction is not always cost-effective, we also seek out suitable existing homes to buy, which will be rented to fulfill community housing needs.
We are thrilled to tell you that the first such purchase by the Cortes Housing Society is now confirmed. Thanks to a generous donor, the CHS is purchasing 671 Sutil Point Road.
This amazing property has two houses (one 2-bedroom home and one 4-bedroom home) that are ready to be rented out to fulfil housing needs of our island. CHS takes possession in early June.
By purchasing existing homes, we avoid the high costs of developing raw land, and we ensure that existing housing on Cortes is used for year-round housing rather than purchased by off-islanders for part-time/summer use.
There’s also a large shop on the property (that could be a makerspace, community shop, or some other community facility) and there’s open space that could be used for agriculture. We we aim to utilize the shop and the agricultural space for community purposes once we’ve had a chance to hear from the community about your aspirations and ideas for how these assets can be used. In the weeks ahead, we’ll be posting rental opportunities to our housing waitlist.
The Cortes Housing Society will continue to work at every viable angle and option to secure the housing needed to keep our community strong and diverse.
Thank you for your ongoing support and please reach out if you are able and willing to donate either time, ideas, or money to continue to make this work happen. Read more the new Cortes Community Housing Society.