Marson family generosity preserves 31 affordable housing units in Leavenworth
Thanks to the generous spirit of the Marson family and the overwhelming financial support of the Leavenworth community, 31 apartments in Leavenworth have been acquired by Upper Valley MEND and will remain permanently affordable.
This is a huge win for a community with inflated housing prices and limited availability to house families on the lower end of the wage scale.
Upper Valley MEND (Meeting Each Need with Dignity) is a Leavenworth-based nonprofit that envisions an empowered community with equitable access to food, housing, wellness, and economic security. MEND has been the glue that has kept the community connected through changes and challenges of being a community dominated by tourism.
The organization quickly and quietly raised $6.8 million to fully fund the purchase of the properties and provide funding for improvements. The campaign got a critical boost with a $1.3 million grant from the state Legislature, thanks to the work of Rep. Mike Steele and Sen. Brad Hawkins.
A community event is scheduled at Leavenworth’s Feste Hall on May 3, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. to celebrate the success and to raise additional funds to help fund construction of two empty lots that were acquired as part of the Marson transaction. They are hoping to raise another $500,000 for that purpose, according to MEND executive director Kaylin Bettinger. Tickets are $25 and can be reserved at uppervalleymend.org.
Preserving 31 units of affordable housing in perpetuity is a huge win for the Leavenworth community. extreme in tourist meccas like Leavenworth, where median housing prices top $750,000.
With the skyrocketing real estate prices in a community where the jobs pay modest wages typical of service jobs for tourism as well as agriculture, it’s becoming nearly impossible for people who work those jobs to afford to live in the community, Bettinger noted.
Had the Marson family chosen to maximize their personal gain from the sale of those properties, it is virtually certain those buildings would have been torn down and replaced with high-value homes. But the community spirit of the Marsons and the effectiveness of Upper Valley MEND in managing affordable housing created a golden opportunity for a collaboration to serve the greater good.
Bettinger sang the praises of Ken Marson and his family, the long-time owners of Marson and Marson Lumber before selling the business a few years ago. “He’s just phenomenal,” said Bettinger.
Bettinger gave me a tour of the properties recently and explained that the purchase will enhance the long-term financial sustainability of the organization. With the additional rental properties, Upper Valley MEND will generate enough rental income to afford having a full-time housing coordinator for not only those units but the existing 20 affordable housing units.
When the existing renters leave, MEND has a process in place to make sure that the succeeding renters meet the financial criteria for needing affordable housing. In other words, the Marsons contribution will keep on giving and ensuring the availability of existing affordable housing.
Before purchasing the properties, MEND commissioned a feasibility study and launched a capital campaign called Firm Foundations. It is best practice in such fundraising efforts to raise 90 percent of the funds by working behind the scenes with key supporters before going public. But with the state funding and the outpouring of community support, MEND was able to complete the campaign to fund the purchase price before going public.
What’s been accomplished in Leavenworth could easily translate to other communities. “Ken (Marson) has said that he hopes that this (effort) can be an inspiration or a model for other people,” Bettinger said.
The true spirit of North Central Washington shines through with people like the Marsons who choose to pay it forward and balance personal gain with community benefit. The Marsons and Upper Valley MEND show what is possible when we care about both.
