The final approval of Northern South Park is a testament to what we can do when we work together to get to a “yes” on affordable housing: Landowners who want affordable housing, community partners willing to help with construction, and county leadership that looks for solutions.
I am proud of all the hard work we on the Planning Commission put in to help shepherd Northern South Park across the finish line. It took us 7 years, but it was worth it. The affordable housing will provide homeownership opportunities to our community so that they can stay here and grow.
We need to continue our focus on building quality affordable housing. Individuals and families want homes, not small apartments. Recent “affordable” apartments cost $3000+ for a one-bedroom. People would rather buy or rent farther away where they can afford a house with a yard and a garage than pay $3,000 in rent for a studio or $6,000 a month for a two-bedroom.
I think our recent approach to affordable housing has been flawed. We have focused too much on housing quantity without sufficient thought to who we are trying to house. Quite simply, we have been trying to build too many studio and one-bedroom units, which are fine for young singles but do not create a pathway for these people to stay in the community as they grow and start families.
My seven years of experience on the Teton County Planning Commission have prepared me to help our community develop more thoughtful affordable housing solutions. I know the County’s Land Development Regulations. My finance background is also an asset, as I can work with our developer partners to devise creative financing solutions and avoid unnecessary delays.
So what would I do differently? One, I would restart a project like the Virginian with a non-profit as the developer, such as Habitat, which has a sterling track record. With the money saved, we could reduce density and provide housing options better suited for the Jackson lifestyle. I would have discussions with the community about how we should prioritize housing for critical County workers. For example, only 3 of our sheriff’s deputies live in the County.
Teton County, we can do better!