Land purchase set to double Battle Ground’s affordable housing stock

“Locating suitable residential acreage in Battle Ground is difficult,” Johnson told the board.

The $1.49 million purchase will be paid for using a $800,000 loan from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission at 1-percent interest and $690,000 in unrestricted housing authority funds.

Board Chair Art Miles initially disliked the idea — which was discussed at the board’s August meeting — in part because of where the land is located, but he did vote Thursday to approve the purchase.

“We look out into the future, and we do want to be in Battle Ground,” Miles said, adding that he was pleased they were getting the land at a reduced price. The seller was originally asking for around $2 million, Johnson said.

Commissioner Roy Heikkala said it’s hard to find big pieces of property for larger projects and that the authority need to continue acquiring properties for future work. Developers around the county have contemplated the shrinking amount of developable land.

“I think the need is pretty big there (in Battle Ground),” Heikkala said.

The Battle Ground City Council also previously approved the housing authority’s purchase of the land. Design work won’t begin for another two to three years, and the housing authority said it will maintain the vacant property until it’s developed.