Ground has officially been broken on the Mason Street Neighborhood, marking a major milestone in a vision that has been years in the making.
What began nearly five years ago as a community conversation about affordable homeownership is now becoming reality.
As the largest affordable housing development in East Jefferson County’s history, the Mason Street Neighborhood will create 138 permanently affordable homes on 17 acres in Port Hadlock, helping more local families achieve the dream of homeownership. Phase I construction will focus on infrastructure and the first 32 homes.
The August 26 groundbreaking ceremony brought together neighbors, community leaders, partners, supporters, and advocates who have helped shape and sustain this vision from the very beginning. More than a ceremonial turning of dirt, the event was a celebration of the people and partnerships that have carried the project forward every step of the way.
Among those in attendance were U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, U.S. Representative Emily Randall, and WA State Rep. Steve Tharinger, whose continued support for affordable housing has helped make projects like Mason Street possible.
Following welcome remarks from Executive Director Jamie Maciejewski, Siobhan Canty of the Jefferson Community Foundation reflected on the project’s origins and the extraordinary collaboration that has brought it to this point. Jefferson County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour highlighted the contributions of county departments, the Planning Commission, and the PUD, while Chimacum School District Superintendent Scott Mauk spoke about the transformative impact the neighborhood will have on local families, children, and the workforce, including teachers and school district staff.
Photos above, left to right: Habitat EJC Executive Director Jamie Maciejewski (photo by Sarah Winslow); U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (photo by Ava Fletcher); U.S. Representative Emily Randall (photo by Sarah Winslow).
Top photo collage: Top, group photo of speakers breaking ground, including federal, state and local representatives (photo by Ava Fletcher). Bottom left, Jamie Maciejewski introducing Siobhan Canty of the Jefferson Community Foundation. Bottom right, Habitat EJC Development Coordinator Santiago Mascaró sharing with guests the phased site plan and the impact of bringing 138 affordable homes into our community.
The Habitat team was also honored by the presence of Adrienne Goolsby, Senior Vice President of Habitat for Humanity International, and her colleagues, whose support underscored the significance of the project both locally and within the broader Habitat network. She shared with us the joy and spirit of community she felt that day:
I remember touring this site a few years ago with Jamie and her team. They shared their vision and the dream they were building together. It was not just Habitat for Humanity dreaming. It was all of you.
They described their hopes for a mixed-income community. They talked about what this development could mean for East Jefferson County and how transformative it could be. Then they got to work.
What struck me most was their commitment to thinking differently about affordable housing. They weren’t simply talking about affordable housing in the traditional sense. They were talking about affordable housing tailored to the needs of this community. They were thinking about teachers, nurses, and the people who make this community what it is. They were focused on creating opportunities that would allow those individuals to continue living and thriving here.
And what we know is this: dreaming is more fun when you do it together.
Jamie then introduced Cameron and Jeremy Botkin, Port Hadlock Habitat homeowners of eleven years, saying, “We can’t do this without highlighting the difference that it makes to the families who become Habitat homeowners.”
Cameron Botkin spoke movingly about what owning a home has meant to her and her family, touching the hearts of everyone there.
When Jamie asked me to share some snapshots of our family’s Habitat story, I was thrilled, albeit a little overwhelmed by speaking to such an audience.
But as I look around, I realize you are not merely an audience. You are my neighbors.
Living in a stable home…, just 2.2 miles from here, where we do not worry about the rent increasing beyond our reach or our home being sold out from beneath us, has enabled our family to grow. We are now a family of seven. More importantly, it has enabled us to thrive and pursue our dreams.
Many of you know and have worked alongside our son Ryan. It is not lost on me that he was born the same year as Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County. At age 16, he helped build our Habitat home alongside his dad and his grandpa Mike, who is here today. Ryan earned his bachelor’s degree and then returned to serve with AmeriCorps at Habitat, helping others build homes here in Jefferson County. Today, at age 27, he is actively serving in the Air Force and is stationed in Virginia Beach.
Something very special about the Mason Street Neighborhood is that two group homes from Olympic Neighbors will be part of the community. Executive Director Dana Brothers spoke about this important partnership between Olympic Neighbors and Habitat EJC.
For those who may not know us, Olympic Neighbors has been creating homes and fostering community connections for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 2012.
Today is especially meaningful because Mason Street represents both a home for our future residents and an extraordinary partnership between Olympic Neighbors and Habitat for Humanity.
These two homes will ultimately provide 12 people with safe, permanent housing and the opportunity to remain connected to their community, their families, and the support systems that help them thrive.
Photos above, left to right: Habitat homeowner Cameron Botkin (photo by Sarah Winslow); Adrienne Goolsby, Senior Vice President of Habitat for Humanity International (photo by Ava Fletcher); Dana Brothers, Executive Director of Olympic Neighbors (photo by Sarah Winslow).
Click here to watch the complete video (with transcript) of the Groundbreaking Ceremony speakers.
Throughout the celebration, the true spirit of the Mason Street Neighborhood was evident in the conversations, laughter, reunions, and shared excitement among those gathered.
Future homeowners stood alongside current Habitat homeowners, volunteers connected with donors and partners, and community members celebrated what can happen when people come together around a shared purpose.
For nearly five years, volunteers, donors, advocates, supporters, and community partners have contributed their time, resources, expertise, and belief in a future where more families have access to safe, stable, and affordable homes. The groundbreaking served as a powerful reminder that the Mason Street Neighborhood is being built on more than land and infrastructure. It is being built on relationships, commitment, and a community-wide dedication to creating opportunity for generations to come.
To everyone who has helped bring this vision to life, thank you. Thank you to the volunteers who have dedicated countless hours, to the donors whose generosity has fueled progress, to the partners who have invested their expertise, and to the supporters who believed in the vision from the start. This milestone belongs to all of you.
The journey is just beginning, and with construction set to move forward, the Mason Street Neighborhood stands as a testament to what a community can accomplish when it works together to ensure more families have a place to call home.
The photos above are provided by Habitat staff and photographers Ava Fletcher and Sarah Winslow.