Name: Marin Community Foundation
Price range: $

Galilee Harbor Community Association

Background

The Galilee Harbor Community Association is a Sausalito-based floating home community of 38 berths. A member-run cooperative community composed of artists, marine workers and their families, residents of Galilee Harbor are actively employed in marine and artistic occupations, including boat-building, boat repair, sail-making, marine canvas work, creative writing, theater, painting, photography and other visual arts. Many residents are low or very low income.

Project

Boat builders and their families have lived next to the Mono Street Marsh in Sausalito since the 1800s. The drive to become a legally permitted community began in 1980 when developers began demolishing the boat-building sheds on the uplands. The residents formed a non-profit corporation and bought the land and water parcels from the developer. After 18 years of negotiation with the City and the BCDC, the Association received permits to build a legal live-aboard marina based on the premise that by providing low-cost housing to artists and maritime workers it was helping to preserve the working Sausalito waterfront.

Loan Purpose

The MCF Loan fund made a $1,000,000 construction loan in 2002. The purpose of the loan was to support affordable housing in Sausalito with the construction of two docks complete with utilities, fire safety equipment, exterior lighting, a wheel chair ramp, and waterfront access for the general public. Over the 30-year life of the loan, the tenants are projected to save over $4 million.

Outcome

The project was completed in June 2004. The Galilee Maritime Service Harbor is dedicated to the preservation of Sausalito 's traditional working waterfront uses and creation of diverse public access opportunities. The on-going redevelopment of the site has created paths and viewing areas from which the public can enjoy views of the bay and marsh from the shore. Floating docks open to the public allow waterfront visitors to walk out over the water and view the interesting and historic boats berthed at Galilee.