Northern South Park was top of mind as supporters of affordable housing sipped mimosas, watched video testimonials and milled about a Wilson restaurant lawn this week.
This summer, county planning commissioners will take up the latest plans for what’s slated to be Teton County’s largest planned neighborhood to-date. It’s on land that’s been eyed for development for more than 50 years. A few electeds dotted the crowd at Calico. And the Gill family, whose land is being redeveloped, got a shout out. Nikki Gill was pleased with the turnout.
“Walking into this event today, I mentioned to my sister who’s here with me, it was noticeably bigger,” she told KHOL. “There are more people here, the tent is bigger. I felt that there was a different energy walking in with Northern South Park on the horizon.”
Development plans still require three out of five county commissioners to vote ‘Yes.’
“I think this community is ready for a yes,” she said.
Nikki Gill listens as former Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area Board Chair Patty Lummis describes the impact of Northern South Park and other projects. (Evan Robinson-Johnson / KHOL).
Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area raised more than $100,000 in less than an hour at the annual Dream Builders fundraiser.
By Friday, the preliminary tally was $350,000, its largest sum to date.
The raise took on greater urgency this year as Teton Habitat embarks on the largest challenge in its 30-year history.
Four years ago, the Gill family pledged a donation of 45 acres for affordable homes on their legacy ranch. In exchange, the family got denser free market development nearby.
Teton Habitat is committed to funding and building nearly 200 of the affordable homes over the next decade. That is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars and contribute to a new 600-home neighborhood with 70% set aside for Jackson Hole workers. The Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust is developing another nearly 200 homes.
Former Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area Board Chair Patty Lummis describes the impact of Northern South Park and other projects as fundraising crests $100,000. (Evan Robinson-Johnson / KHOL)
Rolf Engh, who said he once painted a Habitat house with Jimmy Carter, provides an annual match for the fundraiser through the Wisconsin-based Engh Foundation. He said it’s especially important to provide homes for the valley’s Hispanic workers.
“Without those people, there won’t be any meals, no hospital help, no gardening, no snow plowing,” he said.
Board members, donors and builders were all optimistic. In 2024, the Jackson-based Hughes Charitable Foundation pledged a $15 million match. Engh says a combined $30 million would fund about half the homes.
Born-and-raised local Eric Ryan, Jackson branch manager for First Interstate Bank, said there seems to be good momentum.
“It’s impressive not only that they’ve had the drive to push those things forward but the community support that’s gotten behind that as well is just amazing,” he said.
He described Northern South Park as “much needed” given the yearslong struggle for affordable housing in the valley.
Others in attendance celebrated Habitat’s expansion to Star Valley and said the show of support this week demonstrates the community backs their growth. They also encouraged people to volunteer at a build, where they can learn practical skills.
Bob Wemple showed off his blue shirt from the group’s first international trip to Tlaxcala, Mexico. “It was lots of fun,” he said.
Bob Wemple shows off his blue shirt from the group’s first international trip to Tlaxcala, Mexico. “It was lots of fun,” he said. (Evan Robinson-Johnson/KHOL).
Newly minted CEO Ben Johnson told the crowd “Habitat doesn’t just build dreams, Habitat builds teams.” And Rev. Travis Helms of St. John’s Episcopal Church described the impact of Habitat in transcendentalist terms, saying stable housing allows residents to “suck the marrow out of life,” as Henry David Thoreau once suggested.
Even in the midst of jubilee, some didn’t shy away from naming the challenge ahead.
“We’re never going to provide enough affordable housing to meet the need,” said Chris Finlay, a Housing Trust board member. “It’s just not possible.”
Christina Feuz, a Habitat board member, said operations have been tricky as they prepare for the lull before Northern South Park is approved and can break ground.
“That part’s challenging because we’re planning and yet we’re not building,” she said. “Going from 24 homes to 200 homes is a big difference, so the planning phase is pretty intense.”
Feuz said she’s received a lot of hard questions about the project.
“But it’s really not rocket science,” she said. “I’m not really worried about fundraising for the next ten years. I don’t think that’s going to be an issue at all. What I am ready to do is get everything approved and start building.”
