CLAM Acquires 35 Third Street in Point Reyes Station

In October 2022, CLAM purchased 35 Third Street in Point Reyes Station to be preserved as affordable, community housing.

The purchase of the two bedroom/one bath home for $500,000 fulfills an agreement made by prior owner Ruth Fleshman, who gave the nonprofit first right of refusal to buy the home, upon her death, at a discounted price to be used for community housing. Ruth Fleshman passed away in February of this year at the age of 92, spending the last years of her life in the home with her dog Zack.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS AND TIMELINE

CLAM funded the purchase of 35 Third Street in two phases. The outright purchase of the property was financed with a grant of $100,000 from the County’s Measure W Fund for Community Housing and with a short-term, no-cost loan of the remaining $400,000 from a CLAM donor.

This was the second home that CLAM acquired in 2022 through the generosity of community members. In January of 2022, local resident Bobbi Loeb entered into an agreement to sell her property in Point Reyes Station upon her death to CLAM for half its market value as part of an “age-in-place” agreement. Both Ruth Fleshman and Bobbi Leob’s homes are examples of ways that local residents are working with CLAM to develop solutions that benefit themselves, their families, and their community.

In the late 1990s, 35 Third Street was the founding place of CLAM, when Ann Sheree Greenbaum, Penny Livingston, and James Stark gathered in the living room of Ruth Fleshman's longtime friend, Cynthia Clarkson, who was then the tenant of 35 Third Street. Together, they hatched the idea of a community land trust that would preserve affordable homes in an environmentally responsible way to maintain the strong, diverse fabric of West Marin. “Ruth loved that CLAM had its initial start in her house,” says Cynthia. “So, she decided to complete the cycle by making this house available to CLAM.”

Today, CLAM owns and manages 19 rentals in the form of four single-family homes and two small apartment buildings, and has sold two affordable homes on the community land trust model, retaining ownership of the land the homes sit on. CLAM is also working on a 54-unit affordable housing rehab project of a decommissioned Coast Guard housing site in Point Reyes and is actively acquiring and repairing existing homes for conversion to affordable housing.

As of October 12, 2022, CLAM has completed a topographical survey of the property and a site evaluation to determine wastewater capacity. Next, the organization will evaluate options to add an additional accessory dwelling unit in the backyard, and whether it will be most useful to the community as a rental or homeownership. For now, we celebrate the acquisition of this new property and the inspiring legacy of Ruth Fleshman!

Donate today to help CLAM create more affordable homes like this one!