Methow Conservancy Gifts Six Acres to the Methow Housing Trust

The Methow Conservancy is excited to announce the gift of approximately six acres of land between the Sullivan Cemetery and the Heckendorn neighborhood of Winthrop to the Methow Housing Trust. This relatively flat bench of land sits just below the Meadowlark Natural Area and trail system owned by the Town of Winthrop. The Methow Housing Trust intends to create a permanently affordable neighborhood to serve full-time residents.

The Methow Conservancy acquired the property in 2018, thanks to a generous and visionary donation from long-time supporters Tina and Eliot Scull. At the time, the Conservancy bought a total of approximately 145 acres, including what is now the 139-acre Meadowlark Natural Area, to provide free public access to trails near Winthrop. After developing the trail system in the Natural Area, the Conservancy worked with the Town of Winthrop to transfer ownership to them as a park. The Conservancy has held onto the remaining six acres, knowing it could meet a community need in the future.

“From the outset, we discussed the idea that these six acres could be a good place for an affordable neighborhood, which even back in 2018 was an emerging need for the Methow Valley economy,” says Methow Conservancy Executive Director Sarah Brooks. “That need has become dire in the past six years and the Town of Winthrop has officially declared a housing crisis. The most logical and expedient way for the Methow Conservancy to help address the very real need for housing that is permanently affordable for residents who live and/or work in the Methow Valley is to donate this land to the Methow Housing Trust.”

The Methow Conservancy has been working with the Methow Housing Trust to determine whether the property (referred to as Larkspur Flats for the time being) is a good fit for their next neighborhood. Having established that the property fits the Methow Housing Trust's needs, the Methow Conservancy gifted the parcel to the Methow Housing Trust, which will manage all aspects of planning and building the neighborhood.

“This unique collaboration between the Methow Conservancy and the Methow Housing Trust addresses so many of our shared community values, including land preservation; access to quality, permanently affordable housing; belonging for everyone; and, addressing sustainability through increasing density in one of the few ideal locations remaining for this kind of development. We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership and this opportunity!” reflects Don Linnertz, Methow Housing Trust Vice President.

The first step for the Housing Trust will be to prepare to take the acreage through the Town’s annexation process, since the land is currently located in the County. The property is adjacent to Winthrop Town limits on three sides, and it lies within the Town’s Planning Area and water service area.

“The Conservancy is not a housing organization but concentrating development in or near towns is a clear conservation priority,” notes Brooks. “It helps take pressure off sensitive wildlife habitat and agricultural lands and it makes sense to access town infrastructure when possible. This piece of land is well-situated to add to the vibrancy of the Town of Winthrop. In many ways, it already feels like it is in the town limits.”

The Methow Housing Trust will now take responsibility for efforts on annexation and neighborhood planning and development. “MHT worked carefully on a due diligence process with the Methow Conservancy and the Town of Winthrop to confirm what is possible, safe and appropriate for this property,” says Methow Housing Trust Executive Director Danica Ready. “We look forward to pulling our engineering and site design team together this spring to begin to plan the affordable housing development in earnest. We are excited to put to use everything we’ve learned in building our first five neighborhoods as we prepare to design and build this one. Today, the MHT applicant wait pool contains 63 eligible households. The Cascade Meadows North project in Winthrop will serve 24 of those applicants. The on-going need for additional affordable housing for locals is clear, and the Methow Conservancy’s decision to make these 6 acres available for additional local housing is a big win for the community.”

“This entire project has been such a great example of the power of partnerships to address community needs,” reflects Brooks. “First, we partnered with Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance to design and build the walking trails at the Meadowlark Natural Area, and then we forged a partnership with the Town of Winthrop, so they can own the park, while we still assist with ongoing stewardship of the land. And now, we’ve partnered with the Methow Housing Trust, so they can help complete the vision of having this land near town benefit wildlife, recreation, and local residents. We think the opportunity to have so many community wins is a pretty great way to honor the generosity of the Scull Family in making this all possible.”

The Methow Conservancy continues to work on their vision for making a small portion of the Sunny M Ranch available for affordable housing. The Conservancy purchased 1200 acres of the Sunny M Ranch in the summer of 2023, with significant support from the community. In addition to securing important wildlife habitat, preserving farmland, and protecting trail access, one of the goals of the purchase was to make 12-24 acres available for an affordable neighborhood near town.

“That is a much more complicated project, given some of the unique circumstances of Sunny M,” notes Brooks. “We remain committed to continuing to work on the Sunny M affordable housing neighborhood, but we can help play a role in addressing the Valley’s housing crisis more quickly with Larkspur Flats. By giving Larkspur Flats to the Methow Housing Trust now, we ensure that they can get started on planning that neighborhood right away.”

FAQs for the Methow Conservancy

1. Is the Methow Conservancy now an affordable housing organization?

No, but we are partners in two distinct projects that will provide permanently affordable housing for Methow Valley residents:

a) The gift of the 6-acre Larkspur Flats parcel to the Methow Housing Trust (MHT); and

b) Making 12-24 acres of land available for permanently affordable housing on a dryland field of the Sunny M Ranch. LEARN MORE

2) Why are you involved in affordable housing for local residents?

The Methow Valley is in an affordable housing crisis, particularly for local workers. We believe that housing security is an essential component of a diverse, thriving community and a resilient, sustainable economy. As a land trust, we recognize that we need to find ways to provide land for wildlife, for farming, for trails, and for community.

In our land protection projects over the past 27 years (which include more than 12,000 protected acres, with 31 miles of protected shoreline) we have always encouraged clustering development near towns, while protecting larger open spaces in the outer reaches of the Methow Valley.

3) You've owned this parcel for six years. Why are you giving it now, specifically?

The need for affordable housing in the Methow Valley has become dire and the Methow Housing Trust will be ready for its next building project relatively soon. By giving these six acres to them now, the Methow Housing Trust can plan ahead for Larkspur Flats to be their next neighborhood project, after Cascade Meadows North is completed.

4) Did you put any restrictions on Larkspur Flats before you gave it to the Methow Housing Trust?

The Methow Conservancy and the Methow Housing Trust share a vision for Larkspur Flats, which is for an attractive, thoughtfully planned, permanently affordable neighborhood that adds to the vibrancy of the Town of Winthrop, fits with the scale and feel of nearby Town neighborhoods, is compatible with the Meadowlark Natural Area and public use of its trails, and ensures protection of wildlife.

Our gift agreement with the Methow Housing Trust includes a few basic restrictions: permanent affordability, no nightly rentals, and a neighborhood design that incorporates walking access to the trails in the Meadowlark Natural Area.

5) How many houses will there be on this parcel?

The Methow Housing Trust has not yet begun neighborhood design. The final number of homes will be determined by a combination of Town policy, design considerations and conditions on and around the site. MHT’s intention is to create a plan based on what is possible, safe and appropriate for this property. MHT will manage all aspects of planning and building the neighborhood.

6) Will the Methow Conservancy have any ongoing involvement in the Larkspur Flats land gift to the Methow Housing Trust?

No. The Methow Conservancy will not be involved in the planning, designing, or building of the Larkspur Flats neighborhood.

7) Will the gift of the parcel affect the user experience of the Meadowlark Natural Area?

No. This project won't change the recreational use that residents and visitors enjoy on the Meadowlark Natural Area trails; those 139 acres are owned by the Town of Winthrop and are protected for free public use in perpetuity.

In the short term, the parking area for Meadowlark will remain as it has been for years. Longer term, once construction of the neighborhood begins, the parking area will shift to a piece of the parcel that we set aside for parking, in the same general area but a bit closer to the cemetery. The trailhead will not change; like the Meadowlark Natural Area, it is owned by the Town of Winthrop.

The Meadowlark Natural Area trails will remain open to the public throughout the planning, design, and construction of the affordable neighborhood (except during the usual temporary closure for deer migration in March).

As we have since 2018, we will continue to be the stewards of the adjacent Meadowlark Natural Area: maintaining trails, managing the early spring closure for deer migration, and providing opportunities for community engagement through weeding and restoration work parties.

8) Are you still planning an affordable neighborhood on Sunny M Ranch?

Yes, but not immediately. We are continuing to work on our vision for making a small portion of the Sunny M Ranch available for permanently affordable housing for local residents and workers in the future. As you may recall, in the summer of 2023, with significant community support, we purchased 1200 acres of the Sunny M Ranch. In addition to securing important wildlife habitat, preserving farmland, and protecting trail access, one of our goals for the purchase was to make 12-24 acres available for an affordable neighborhood near town.

That is a much more complicated project, given some of the unique circumstances of Sunny M. We remain committed to continuing to work on the Sunny M affordable housing neighborhood and are actively engaged in the research needed to create a feasible housing parcel, but we can help play a role in addressing the Valley’s housing crisis more quickly with Larkspur Flats. By giving Larkspur Flats to the Methow Housing Trust now, we ensure that they can get started on planning that neighborhood right away.

We have always said that the specifics--including timing-- of the Sunny M neighborhood would be data-driven, based on current inventory of affordable housing, community demand, and other housing projects in the pipeline. This remains true.

9) I have a question about annexation plans, neighborhood design, ingress/egress, or timeline. Who should I talk to?

For all aspects of planning, infrastructure, and neighborhood design, please contact the Methow Housing Trust HERE. You can learn more about their intentions for the project HERE.

10) I'd like to go walk the Meadowlark Trails--how can I learn more?

Great idea! Those trails are beautiful year-round. You can learn more about Meadowlark HERE.