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Gov. Mark Gordon took the podium Sept. 10 at a construction site across the street from the hospital serving Jackson Hole and much of the surrounding area.
A planned 72 apartments are about two and a half years out before doctors, nurses and technicians can move in. The Hitching Post site, formerly a lodge, has served as housing for staff and patients since the early 2000s. The company has other housing reserved for its workforce, but this revamp will be its largest.
“Affordable housing is something we’re dealing with around the state,” Gordon said. “And it started here as a nice opportunity to showcase how you can do it.”
One, two and three bedroom homes are expected to combat the 22% annual turnover at the region’s biggest year-round employer of about 850 staff.
In 2022, 56% of staff lived in the Jackson area, according to the hospital’s website, which was a 6% decline from the year prior. The town and county aim to house 65% of the entire workforce locally.
Jackson have worried for years that the state legislature may intervene in their affordable housing program. Though nothing ever came from proposed legislation last session, it’s a worry Gordon shares.
“I want to make sure that Wyoming remembers what I’ve always believed as a Republican: local government closest to the people is the best government,” he said.
The hospital is building the apartments by splitting the $54 million project into three parts.
About half will be paid for by a specific purpose excise tax approved by Teton County voters in 2022 for $24 million collected over years. The hospital and its private fundraising arm, St. John’s Health Foundation, will pick up the rest.
Anna Olson leads the foundation and says the hospital is taking on about $25 million in debt. They plan to pay it off, in part, through rent, subsidized at 50% of market rate.
“We know housing is the number one factor affecting retention,” Olson said.
Internet aggregator Apartments.com listed Jackson’s average studio rent at $2,723 in September. The Jackson/Teton County Affordable Housing Department’s most recent study from 2022 listed the average studio rent and one-bedroom rent at $2,656.
