Common Ground breaks ground on eight permanently affordable Creo Cottages

Common Ground Community Housing Trust told the Wenatchee City Council at its meeting that construction is underway for the Creo Cottages, an eight-home community designed under a community land trust model to remain permanently affordable.

The project, which Common Ground acquired in April 2023 and officially broke ground July 16, will contain eight homes — four one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units at about 970 square feet each — with occupancy permits anticipated in 2026. Common Ground said local families have already expressed interest and the organization expects to use a lottery process when applications open.

"Every dollar that comes into Common Ground stretches, and helps the homes that we build stay affordable," said Tom Neece, executive director of Common Ground Community Housing Trust. He told the council the trust raised nearly $1 million in community investment to secure a construction loan and to close the project's financing gap.

Under the community land trust model described by Neece, Common Ground retains ownership of the land while homebuyers purchase the improvements under a master ground lease with deed restrictions designed to preserve affordability in perpetuity. Neece said the trust seeks additional parcels and asked the council and community members to alert the organization if land becomes available at a discount.

Council members thanked Common Ground for the work and noted the project’s potential to provide workforce housing near amenities. No formal council action was requested or taken; the presentation concluded with offers to meet offline about the application and selection process.

If Common Ground proceeds on additional parcels, the organization said it will return with project-specific details as sites are identified. For now, the trust said the immediate focus is completing Creo Cottages and continuing outreach to prospective buyers.