CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On Thursday, Dec. 7, the State Board of Land Commissioners (SBLC) voted three out of five in favor of the Town of Jackson’s application for $1.25 million to fund the Flat Creek affordable housing project.
SBLC has $5 million set aside for affordable housing infrastructure in the state. The $1.25 million funding from the state will go directly to the town for the Flat Creek affordable housing project.
Construction has begun on the project, which is located at 400 W. Snow King Ave., directly across the street from the Heritage Rodeo Arena. The Flat Creek project broke ground in May 2023.
The Flat Creek housing project is projected to include 48 deed-restricted, affordable rental units. According to Tyler Davis, one of the developers on the project, the units will range in rental price from $670 per month for one-bedroom units to $1,923 per month for three-bedroom units.
“It is truly affordable housing,” Davis said during the meeting.
Davis told Buckrail, the project’s ground lease is for 99 years, making the units rentals for that time period. After 99 years, the town could take the building back.
During the comment period, some residents voiced concerns over the duration of the rodeo ground’s lease and future plans for the location of the arena. Resident Blair Maus told the SBLC board that there is a movement to save the fairgrounds from moving from its present location in order to preserve its historic western heritage.
Arne Jorgensen spoke to the board and said that there is no threat to the rodeo grounds.
“The configuration of the fair and rodeo grounds goes back to the ’50”s,” Jorgensen said. “This housing project will provide services so the fair and rodeo can happen. The current town council has extended the rodeo ground lease and if it needs to be extended further, we are more than happy to have that discussion.”
April Norton, Affordable Housing Director, told the SBLC board that approximately 2,600 people are in need of affordable housing in Jackson. According to the 2022 Teton Region Housing Needs Assessment, 2,000 housing units are needed in the next five years.
