Bethany Lutheran Church had long envisioned using its land to address the affordable housing crisis on Bainbridge Island. In 2019, the state passed a law requiring cities and towns to grant religious organizations an increased density bonus to build affordable housing on their land, helping the church turn a longtime dream into a financially viable project. Early 2024, Finch Green LLC, the nonprofit formed by the church to guide the project, and HRB enter a partnership in which the church will donate a portion of its land to HRB, and HRB will develop 22 homes in collaboration with Finch Green LLC. The homes will become part of the HRB community land trust. HRB’s capital campaign for the Ericksen Community and HRB at the Oliver is enlarged to raise funds for the new neighborhood.
