MATTAWA — Housing availability on the Wahluke Slope has been a problem for several years. There is plenty of work but not enough workers because of insufficient dwelling places.

A while back, the Washington Growers League announced a $7 million farm worker housing project east of Pat Chee Road along Road 24 SW.

Now comes the news that Sonrise Orchards, owned by the Brian Talbot family, is the site of an ambitious project to house farm and professional workers on the Slope.

“We require one fulltime employee for every five acres of orchard we plant,” Talbot said. “We’re planting more than 1,000 acres per year, so there has never been enough workers or adequate housing at harvest time.”

Although the project is intended for housing famers and professional workers, Talbot said his employees will have top priority if they want to live there. Police officers, teachers (and other professionals) will be a priority as well.

A farmer only until now, Talbot is building this project to fulfill the need. It’s the first time he’s doing something like this, but he knows all the right people to help get the job done.

Talbot has worked out a deal with a non-profit group to build and manage a community center within the housing project that will be big enough for a basketball court. His overall plan includes an outdoor soccer field.

“We want facilities for after-school activities,” he said.

The project site will take up 30 acres west of Pat Chee Road, just across the road from the Washington Growers League project. There will be eight 12-plexes, 20 duplexes, and 22 single family homes along with eight buildings with rental storage units of varying sizes on the property.

The site still needs to be annexed, but city water has already been extended. Other infrastructure work, including paving Pat Chee Road, is under way.

Talbot can’t place a dollar value on the project yet. He probably won’t know until it’s done. He has no idea what obstacles or challenges will be coming, but does expect them to come.

“It takes a lot of money to build nowadays,” Talbot said. “If I were to guess at it, it could take up to $25 million.”

Talbot has no idea when the project will be complete, but hopes to be able to move some families in by harvest time 2018.