Newsroom

The Mason Street Neighborhood is a 17-acre mixed-income neighborhood in Port Hadlock being developed by Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County. When complete, there will be 138 permanently affordable homes, including two small group homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities operated by Olympic Neighbors. Designed as a walkable, connected neighborhood near the primary school, the public library, shopping, and transit, the Mason Street Neighborhood will be the largest affordable housing development in East Jefferson County’s history.

The Mason Street Neighborhood is a $67 million project that includes land acquisition, planning, design, engineering, infrastructure, home construction, and associated development costs. When complete, the neighborhood will create 138 permanently affordable homes on 17 acres in Port Hadlock.

Mason Street is the result of several years of planning and preparation. Habitat’s board, leadership team, staff, and project partners bring expertise in housing development, construction, planning, finance, and project management. The neighborhood is being built in phases, allowing continued evaluation and adjustment as construction progresses.

Habitat defines affordable housing as housing that costs no more than one-third of a household’s gross monthly income, including mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, homeowner association dues, and other housing-related costs.

Mason Street homes will remain affordable for future generations through Habitat’s permanent affordability model. Homebuyers purchase their homes while agreeing to resale restrictions that help keep those homes affordable when they are sold in the future. The model allows homeowners to build equity while preserving affordability for future buyers.

The neighborhood is designed for a wide range of people who live and work in Jefferson County, including teachers, healthcare workers, tradespeople, service workers, retail employees, landscapers, mechanics, caregivers, and families. Eligibility extends to households earning between 40% and 150% of Area Median Income through Habitat’s Core and Extended homeownership programs.

Applications are available through Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County at:

habitatejc.org/homes

Information about eligibility requirements, income limits, and application procedures is available online. Paper applications are also available through Habitat.

Area Median Income, or AMI, is a federal measure used to help determine eligibility for housing programs. For a four-person household in Jefferson County, the 2026 Area Median Income is approximately $107,000.

AMI helps determine which households qualify for different housing opportunities. Habitat traditionally serves households below 80% of AMI, but Mason Street includes households up to 150% of AMI because of the high cost of housing and limited availability of homes in Jefferson County.

Habitat chose a mixed-income approach because housing challenges affect people across a broad range of incomes in Jefferson County. The goal is to create a neighborhood that reflects the people who make the community work while expanding access to affordable homeownership opportunities.

Approximately 55% of the homes will serve households below 80% of AMI. Up to 45% of the homes will serve households between 80% and 150% of AMI.

Jefferson County zoning would allow significantly more homes on the site. Habitat intentionally chose a lower-density approach in order to preserve green space, walking paths, gathering areas, and overall neighborhood quality.

Phase I construction is expected to begin in fall 2026, starting with site preparation, utilities, roads, stormwater infrastructure, and other site improvements needed to support the future neighborhood.

Phase I includes infrastructure development and construction of the first 32 homes. Habitat anticipates welcoming the first residents late 2027 to early 2028, with Phase I continuing through approximately 2029.

Mason Street Neighborhood will be built in phases over several years. Phase I construction begins in fall 2026, and Habitat anticipates completing the full 138-home neighborhood in 2032.

The groundbreaking marks the beginning of construction on Phase I of the Mason Street Neighborhood. It represents the end of one chapter of planning and the beginning of a much larger chapter of construction, fundraising, and community partnership. The neighborhood will be built over several years, and continued support will be essential to bring the full vision to life.

Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County will share project updates, construction progress, frequently asked questions, and milestone announcements through a dedicated Mason Street Neighborhood webpage.

Community members can visit:

habitatejc.org/masoninfo

for the latest information about the neighborhood, construction progress, homeownership opportunities, and upcoming milestones.