Editor,

Now that both the city planning staff and the hearing examiner have recommended approval, I encourage the Oak Harbor City Council to step forward and approve the LIHI application for affordable housing on Pioneer Way.

It has been encouraging to witness the community’s realization that the LIHI apartments are affordable housing for our local workforce and veterans, not a homeless shelter.

I believe that downtown merchants will be the benefactors of the addition of new working residents on Pioneer Way. I also believe property values will increase in the downtown core with the addition of more residents in this district.

It has been shown that well-designed affordable housing often leads district reinvestment, and I believe that this project on long-vacant land will attract others who will build market-rate development that our community needs.

I ask the men and women on city council to favorably consider the LIHI application and vote to approve it.

George Saul

Oak Harbor