Third Street Cottages - Whidbey Island, WA

Pioneering excellence

This trend-setting pocket neighborhood is the result of the passion generated by a broad base of people who believe new housing choices are needed and took the risks to pioneer new models that build community, address sustainability & provide for 'smart growth'. People on every level paved the way for the Third Street Cottages: a forward-thinking state government, a pro-active planning director, an innovative architect, a sensitive developer, an enlightened banker, and a supportive local community.

Third Street Cottages is located in a small town on Whidbey Island, just an hour drive and short ferry ride from downtown Seattle. To preserve its character, diversity and to discourage the spread of placeless sprawl, the community adopted a forward-thinking "Cottage Housing Development" (CHD) single-family zoning code provision that made Third Street Cottages legally possible. The Third Street Cottages consist of eight detached, one bedroom plus loft cottages clustered around a garden courtyard with detached parking. Built on four single family lots (each 7,200 SF), these homes were the first in the United States to utilize a 'cottage housing development' land use code, allowing a 100 percent density increase for size-limited (all cottages were less than 1,000 square-feet) smaller homes in all single-family residential zones.

Third Street Cottages was completed and SOLD OUT in 1998.  Sign Up Here to be notified of resale opportunities in this community.

The Third Street Cottages is designed by Ross Chapin AIA, Ross Chapin Architects.

Project details

• Community Overview
• Site Plan
• Photo Gallery
• Homes for Sale

What homeowners say:

"At first, it was difficult to figure out what to throw out or give away.  It took several months to decide what fit into our home and what didn't. But each year we just seem to be getting rid of more and more stuff. The longer we live here, the simpler our lives become. You become truly aware of what matters most."