Affordable Cottage Project Planned Next to Langley Tiny Home Site

Whidbey Island Living Legacy has unveiled plans for Grace Landing, a six unit development of permanently affordable cottage homes on less than half an acre next to the THINC tiny home site in Langley. The nonprofit will hold an informational meeting on Saturday, November 15 at the Langley Fire Station to present the site plan and next steps for the project.

Project documents show the site plan and an arborist report are complete, and an architect is finalizing construction plans. Each cottage is designed to be about 600 square feet, with a main floor that includes a bedroom, living area, kitchen, full bathroom and laundry, and a loft with a half bath. Designs include a covered porch and occupancy of up to four people per home. Based on current cost estimates, each unit would be built for roughly $170,000, a figure that the nonprofit notes is subject to change.

Grace Landing will be offered under permanent affordability terms, and Whidbey Island Living Legacy says it will accept applications from prospective owners. The application process will include income limits, background checks, references and interviews. The nonprofit also is seeking donations to reduce the upfront costs for buyers and to support project delivery.

The timeline laid out by project organizers anticipates beginning construction next year, but that schedule is contingent on local permitting and utility work. Those dependency points place the project within the jurisdictional processes of Island County and the city of Langley for land use review, as well as coordination with utility providers for connections. The informational meeting provides a public forum to ask about permitting timelines, utility coordination and the nonprofit s plans for funding and long term affordability enforcement.

For Island County residents, Grace Landing represents a targeted approach to expand homeownership opportunities on a small footprint, adjacent to an existing tiny home community. The development raises policy questions about how local government, nonprofit developers and voters prioritize permanently affordable housing, what incentives or regulatory adjustments could accelerate such projects, and how utility and permitting processes shape the feasibility of small scale infill developments.

Community members interested in the project can learn more at whidbeywill.com and by attending the November 15 meeting. The project s progress will depend on public engagement, fundraising, and timely action by permitting and utility authorities, making upcoming local decisions consequential for the development s viability.