Submitted by OPAL Community Land Trust.

Lisa Byers of OPAL Community Land Trust accepts the “keys” to the Northern Heights apartments from former owners Wes Heinmiller and Alan Stameisen.

Wes and Alan purchased the property in 2008 so that the apartments would remain affordable. They are pleased to pass along that tradition to OPAL, and remained patient as the transaction took more than a year to close.

The purchase also could not have happened without grants from San Juan County, the Orcas Island Community Foundation, and donations from hundreds of islanders.