Bethany Lutheran Church had long envisioned using its land to address the affordable housing crisis on Bainbridge Island. In 2019, the state passed a law requiring cities and towns to grant religious organizations an increased density bonus to build affordable housing on their land, helping the church turn a longtime dream into a financially viable project. Early 2024, Finch Green LLC, the nonprofit formed by the church to guide the project, and HRB enter a partnership in which the church will donate a portion of its land to HRB, and HRB will develop 22 homes in collaboration with Finch Green LLC. The homes will become part of the HRB community land trust.
