TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. – The estate of Captain Bob Morris, the legendary local political activist and frequent hitchhiker, has donated his Village home and property to the Community Housing Trust (CHT).
Morris passed away on Jan. 14, 2020, at the age of 87. He was a supporter of the CHT and an advocate for affordable housing for decades in the valley.
According to a CHT press release, “Morris was the first to use the term ‘crisis’ to describe Jackson Hole’s lack of affordable housing.” He vocalized the severity of the issue on Jackson’s first FM radio station that he founded, and rented out condos at below market rates to community volunteer firefighters before selling them to the CHT in 2001 for half of their assessed value.
Morris’ donated house is an environmentally-conscious design built by architect Bob Corbett in 1982, and is one of the CHT’s biggest received donations.
“For him to do this at the end of his life, make this contribution, people should know,” said Anne Cresswell, executive director of CHT, in the press release. “It’s an incredibly meaningful gift. He was always at the front edge of this issue.”
Even though Morris frequently broadcasted radio ads where he insisted “every free-market home deepens our housing crisis,” the CHT will sell the property as a single-family home and potential tear-down so they can use the funds for future affordable housing projects in the community. It is currently listed with The McPeak Group of Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty for just under $5 million.
Katie Bernasek, CHT marketing communications director, clarified that current zoning laws in the Village and the unique design of Morris’ home make it unfeasible to repurpose the house for a multi-family housing option or the affordable housing program.
The housing crisis has been a growing concern for valley residents, especially since the pandemic.
