Nonprofit putting down roots, this time in central Vancouver

This is one of the first pre-applications the city has received for a cottage cluster development under its updated housing code that was adopted this summer, according to Vancouver Senior Planner Mark Person.

“It’s exciting. Cutting edge,” Huegel said. He estimates the project will cost $3 million to $4 million.

Following the pre-application’s review, the next step is for Wolf Industries to submit a site plan. The city would then review the plan for compliance with its municipal code.

If approved, Huegel expects the project will take nine to 18 months to be completed.

Huegel said he has reached out to neighbors near the site to explain his plans for the project. He wants to express to neighbors that N.E. 32nd Roots would not be low-income housing, but rather below-market-rate housing affordable to people like teachers and retirees.

“It’s crazy important to me that we maintain or improve the integrity of the neighborhood,” he said. “Right now, it’s a vacant lot. We want that place to be shipshape. No riffraff. And we’re gonna do everything in our power to do that.”

Wolf Industries would take on the role of building the homes, while Community Roots Collaborative would manage ongoing day-to-day tasks like renting the homes, Huegel said.

Wolf Industries and Community Roots Collaborative previously worked together to develop Fruit Valley Terrace, a community of 21 tiny homes at 1901 N.W. 69th Circle in Fruit Valley that opened in 2021.

Like Fruit Valley Terrace, the N.E. 32nd Roots project fits “hand in glove” with Wolf Industries’ typical modular homebuilding products that it develops throughout the Pacific Northwest, Huegel said. “Why not take care of our own community here in Vancouver with some affordable housing?”