Affordable housing in Park City is a top priority for city officials but they’re not alone in their quest to level the playing field when it comes to homeowners. Mountainlands Community Housing opened Richer Apartments and reintroduced the Discovery Project in Snyderville in 2016 bringing their total contribution to 201 homes in Summit County and 281 apartments in both Summit and Wasatch counties.
Executive Director Scott Loomis said developing affordable housing takes some time.
“Unfortunately most of these things will not be available probably, until 2018 at the earliest," Loomis said. "We still have that huge need out there and it’s looking better than it was a year or two ago but there is still a lot to do.”
Moutainlands completed 11 Mutual Self Help homes in 2016 and currently has 15 more under construction.
“Out at Silver Creek Village which was approved five or six years ago, they’ve finally started the infrastructure out there and there is a total of 330 units that are required out there which is going to take some time, but at least that is getting under way," Loomis said. "Discovery will have 30, of course the county Cline Dahle, they haven’t decided exactly what they’re going to be doing with it yet but it looks like they’re going forward with the purchase. And Park City Municipal Corporation is doing a lot looking at properties they have plus looking forward. From my standpoint, after over 15 years of doing this, it’s the most optimistic I’ve been in terms of looking forward the next two or three years, that we’re going to get some affordable housing.”
Loomis said Summit County Economic Development Director Jeff Jones said, not only is there a shortage of 1,000 affordable homes, the problem isn’t going to go away.
“It’s a growing problem because he also talks about 1,000 to 1,500 jobs being created each year for the next five years," Loomis said. "So if we want even a third of our workforce to be housed here, that’s still another 150 to 200 units required each year so, we’ve got a ways to go.”
In spite of the growing problem, Loomis is encouraged.
“I think with the county and city involvement, we at Mountainlands are working on a very substantial project potentially and a couple of smaller projects," Loomis said. "It isn’t going to be tomorrow, but in the next two or three years, there should be some product available for people who need to work here and live here.”
Mountainlands is purchasing nine more plots in Francis for their self help program, are working on a 35 to 40 unit project in Heber and have a potentially very large project that they are not able to share details about at this time.
Mountainlands Community Housing Trust got its start back in 1993 and is a non-profit corporation.