More to come during Ferncliff Village Phase 2 | LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Published 10:42 am Sunday, August 2, 2015
To the editor:
There is a small community of new, attractively-colored houses on the west side of Ferncliff Avenue, a short distance from the ferry and a pleasant walk through some woods to downtown Winslow. It is called Ferncliff Village, and it is the flagship entry by Housing Resources Bainbridge into the market for affordable homes.
The last of the 24 properties was purchased almost two years ago. Now, there is an organized homeowner association, with an elected board and a full complement of committees, dedicated to maintenance of the community’s wellbeing and appearance, including its playground and individual garden plots, which have already produced sizable quantities of fruits and vegetables.
If one were to ask, one would probably get only praise for life in Ferncliff Village, including for the oversight and assistance rendered by Housing Resources Bainbridge.
Variety, though, is the order of the day, as can be seen in the ways that individual homeowners have organized their backyards, some opting for large patios, others for mainly grassed areas, still others for quantities of plants and trees. Front yards are all barked, with trees planted among native-growth flowers and bushes.
So, what is the next step? Housing Resources Bainbridge is about to begin Phase Two, which involves building 16 townhouses in an area adjacent to, but part of, the present Ferncliff Village. When the project is complete, the expanded community will number 40 residences, with a corresponding increase in board candidates and volunteers for committees, even a larger garden plot area and playground.
All this is considered a positive step. Generally, current homeowners have resigned themselves to another construction upheaval like the one so many went through not that long ago, knowing that when it is finished we can welcome the additions to our “family” of residents. What is now a varied community, ranging from young couples to retirees and including many individual owners, children, and pets, is expected to be even more diverse but with the common goal of maintaining Ferncliff Village as a wonderful spot to live on beautiful Bainbridge Island.
BILL LANE
Ferncliff Village Association Board President
