MEND celebrates newly-constructed duplex with ribbon-cutting ceremony
Left to right: MEND Housing Manager Kathia Wan Mendizabal, MEND Development Director Hillary Clark, City of Leavenworth Mayor Carl Florea and MEND Executive Director Kaylin Bettinger pose during the ribbon cutting at the newly-finished duplex on Commercial Street. Photo by Dave Masuda.
Upper Valley MEND celebrated a major milestone on July 8 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new duplex that will provide affordable homeownership opportunities for two local families. The 10:00 AM ceremony marked the completion of construction on the project at 241 W Commercial St, made possible by community support during the Solid Foundations Campaign.
The duplex features two 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom homes priced at $315,000, or less than half of market rate. The homes are part of Upper Valley MEND’s homeownership program, which uses a Community Land Trust model to ensure long-term affordability. When homeowners purchase the homes, they agree to a predetermined formula that governs how their home's value increases over time. When they decide to sell, this formula ensures the home remains affordable for the next buyer. This preserves the community’s investment in workforce housing for generations to come. Homebuyers must meet income and residency requirements.
The duplex was constructed on a property donated by the Marson Family as part of the Solid Foundations Campaign. The Campaign, completed in 2024, set a goal to raise $6.8 million to purchase and preserve 31 apartments from the Marson family. Those apartments became part of a workforce rental housing program. The community’s response was so strong that the Campaign exceeded its goal by $500,000 – making this additional homeownership project possible.
"We’re thrilled to be crossing the finish line on this project and handing the keys over to two local families. Homeownership is out of reach for so many folks who work locally and make our community a vibrant, wonderful place. We’re excited to be able to be a small part of the story for these two families," said Kaylin Bettinger, Upper Valley MEND Executive Director.
The homes were constructed by Simplicity by Hayden Homes, which has experience working with Community Land Trusts and specializes in building quality housing at accessible price points.
Four additional homeownership opportunities in Leavenworth will be available this fall, made possible by the sale of these homes, a grant from the City of Leavenworth’s Affordable Housing Fund, and local developer Matt Melton. Community members are encouraged to learn more about the program and check their eligibility at https://www.uvmend.org/newhomes.
This ribbon cutting represents another step in Upper Valley MEND’s mission to ensure that working families can afford to live in the communities they serve.