About 30 1940s-era homes scheduled for demolition in Port Angeles could be moved to Port Townsend for use as affordable housing.

“There’s approximately 30 homes scheduled for demolition in the Port Angeles area, and there’s been some interest on the part of people to take a look at those,” said David Timmons, Port Townsend city manager, at the City Council meeting on Monday, June 5.

“I’ve been coordinating with a number of different people to see if that’s even feasible or possible to salvage those and find homes for them.”

Timmons said Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP), Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County and Jefferson Land Trust may have property available onto which the homes could be transplanted.

“So, we’re kind of looking at how we can spread those around. They’re kind of 1940s vintage, single-story homes,” Timmons said.

“The quote to relocate them is $14,000 per unit, so if land can be found to put those on, then that would be actually a very good deal to get a house established and started. Peninsula Housing Authority currently owns them and it just had all of the houses remodeled about five years ago, so they’re all in fairly good shape,” he said.

“But they’re making way for a new $18 million project they’re going to be building.”

The homes were originally moved from a military facility to their current location in Port Angeles. As such, they are modest but also would be affordable.

Although the homes are small, some of the units have been placed side by side as duplexes.

In a related matter, Timmons said developers had abandoned plans for a 700-unit housing project in Port Townsend. In response, the city is planning to try to use a “request for proposal” to attract private investment to step in.

Timmons added that there were also 75-unit and 123-unit projects in the permitting phase for an area near Cook Avenue and at the intersection of F Street and San Juan Avenue.