State proposes handing 42.64 acres near Houston to the housing agency at no cost, for homes

The state proposes conveying 42.64 acres near Houston to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation at no cost, without competitive bidding. The corporation says it would use such land for housing, at one unit per 0.75 buildable acres. It remains a proposal, and comment closes at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21.

The corporation says it secured 15 properties totaling roughly 700 acres in seven communities over the past year. Alaska News has covered four other DNR notices proposing similar noncompetitive sales in the Fairbanks North Star and Kenai Peninsula boroughs, with comments due Sept. 1 and Sept. 2.

The parcel sits about 1.5 miles southeast of Houston, in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The conveyance would proceed under the public and charitable use statute, AS 38.05.810, which lets the state transfer land to agencies, political subdivisions and tax-exempt nonprofits below appraised value when the commissioner finds the action fair, proper and in the public interest. DNR treats the corporation as a political subdivision.

DNR also proposes waiving the reversionary interest that would otherwise let the state reclaim the land, leaving later land-use limits to local zoning.

Only people who submit timely written comment may appeal the final decision. Comments go to Andrew Miller at 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 640, Anchorage, by fax at (907) 269-8916, or by email at [email protected]. Anyone needing special assistance must ask the Anchorage Public Information Center by 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14.

This account comes from state records; no local government or neighboring landowner is heard from.