After about 40 years of housing low-income Forks residents the Homestead Apartments on Bogachiel Way were demolished on Thursday, Jan. 27.
Workers from contractor MC Lungren brought in the heavy equipment to complete the demolition of 12 one-bedroom units built in the early 1970s.
West End Operations Manager for the Housing Authority of Clallam County Kris Clark said the demolition has uncovered traces of Joseph Burke’s work in building the units. Burke’s name and shipping address is still visible on the back of kitchen cabinets, she said.
Chris Cook – Forks Forum photo
Heavy equipment operators from MC Lungren tear down circa 1970 Homestead Apartments units on Thursday morning, Jan. 27. The apartments are located along Bogachiel Way near the Forks Community Hospital.
The Homestead tract was later sold to Art and Patricia Gray, and the Grays sold the property to the housing authority.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle is building the units and will own them, while the Clallam Count Housing Authority will manage them.
Clark said 30 new units will be built with a ribbon cutting planned for about one year from now. She said there will be 15 two- and three-bedroom units, and 15 one-bedroom units. Five units are being set aside to house veterans. Rents will be charged at low-income levels with a tax credit tied into the rental income.
Catherine Burke, who attended the dedication of the Burke Place Apartments, located adjacent to the Homestead complex, died recently.
Clark said, ”This is the second property being buit with partnering agencies for the Housing Authority to manage within the last year. Burke Place only opened last June, and now another one is being built! It is so desperately needed!”
Five units in the back of the apartment complex were burned down by firefighters in the past in a controlled burn; those units were part of the old Forks Motel, and were moved on site sometime in the 50’s for rental housing.
Burke built the existing rental houses at Homested in the 1960s as affordable housing and the ones being torn down were built in the in the 1970s as affordable housing.
