TCJHA Buys 1.14ac Parcel for 4th Project
Published October 25, 2023
The Teton County Joint Housing Authority (TCJHA) has closed on the purchase of a 1.14 acre parcel at the north end of Front Street in Driggs, with funding allocated by Teton County, Idaho from its American Rescue Plan Act funds. TCJHA will be conducting public outreach and developing the details of the design, financing and schedule in the coming months. This is the fourth new housing project being assembled by the Authority, since it began operating in 2020.
This transaction is part of the Teton Creek Land & Water Project, an ongoing effort launched in 2021 by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Idaho to achieve conservation and community benefits for the region. Following TNC’s acquisition of 1,000 acres of property in Teton Valley, TNC is collaborating with organizations of the Teton Creek Corridor Project to pursue exciting outcomes including: supporting agricultural irrigation needs and exploring opportunities for implementing regenerative farming practices; improving flow in Teton Creek at critical times for native Yellowstone cutthroat trout; permanently protecting elk migration corridors and wildlife habitat.
The property was sold as a package of separate land parcels, some of which have limited conservation values. On parcels with lower conservation values, TNC is seeking to support local partners in addressing community-based needs,such as expanding public infrastructure, building affordable housing, and pathways for community benefit. This includes two downtown parcels, the first of which was sold to the City of Driggs in 2022, and the second to TCJHA this year.
“We couldn’t have hoped for a better deal,” said TCJHA chair Shawn Hill. “Having a conservation and community-minded seller allowed us to acquire downtown land ideal for housing. This transaction simultaneously advances conservation and affordable housing goals, proving that, as a community, we can do both at the same time.”
“It’s exciting to see a diverse group of organizations working together on conservation and community outcomes, from the preservation of open space and wildlife habitat to affordable housing solutions,” said Neil Crescenti, Agriculture Program Manager for The Nature Conservancy in Idaho. “We are happy that the Teton County Joint Housing Authority will use this downtown property to meet important community needs.”
The Board of County Commissioners allocated a portion (12%) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds that Teton County received from the federal government to the TCJHA to support housing solutions. “With the skyrocketing cost of living in our community, below market housing options are critical,” said Cindy Riegel, chair of the Teton County Commission. “The $300,000 of ARPA funds that were allocated to the TCJHA and used to purchase this property will create stability for local employees and their employers. It is exactly what this economic stimulus money was meant to do.”