JACKSON, Wyo. — Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson officially opened the doors to the Flat Creek Apartments with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The 48-unit project is the result of a collaboration by the Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA), BlueLine Development and Jackson/Teton County Affordable Housing.
Flat Creek Apartments is a tax credit affordable housing project located on 300 W. Snow King Ave., across the street from the rodeo grounds. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which was enacted as part of the 1986 Tax Reform Act, subsidizes the acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low and moderate-income tenants, according to the Tax Policy Center.
Town Councilor Arne Jorgensen told Buckrail that this is the first project to secure tax credits in the region for more than 20 years due to high land prices in the area.
“This is something that is really exciting,” Jorgensen said. “This project is an example of providing housing types to meet people’s needs.”
The ribbon cutting ceremony commenced with Morton Levinson addressing the crowd and sharing the importance of this landmark occasion. She said that the one, two and three bedroom homes will provide a safe and secure place to live for approximately 126 local residents. Rents will range between $600 and $1,600 a month. The building will provide common spaces, an exercise room, a computer center, a multi-purpose room and a playground for all of the residents.
According to Morton Levinson, the below-market level rents were made possible due to nearly $15 million in low-income housing tax credits and National Housing Trust Fund dollars. Additionally, the Town contributed $5 million in donated land for the housing project.
“These apartments are an integral piece of our community’s housing puzzle,” Morton Levinson said in her ceremonial speech. “There are many levels of affordability and work-force restrictions and this is a really important part of that.”
The WCDA presented a print of the oil painting, “No Place Like Home,” which was commissioned in celebration of the organization’s 25th anniversary, to be hung inside the building’s living space.
“We are very honored and proud to be a part of this project,” WCDA Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development Tammy Krie said. “It’s been much needed and it’s a beautiful addition to the community.”
After the cutting of the ribbon, community members were given the opportunity to walk through the different sized apartment units. For units along the west side of the building, large windows allow for a view of the rodeo grounds.
“I’m really excited that we have this project and we’re opening the doors today,” Morton Levinson said.
