Gov. Mark Gordon took the podium on September 10 at a construction site across the street from the hospital that serves Jackson Hole and much of the surrounding area.
It will be about two and a half years before doctors, nurses, and technicians can move into the 72 apartments that have been planned. Since the early 2000s, staff and patients have been housed at the Hitching Post site, which was previously a lodge. The company has other housing options for its employees, but this will be the largest renovation.
“Affordable housing is something we’re dealing with around the state,” Gordon told the crowd. “And it started here as a nice opportunity to showcase how you can do it.”
One, two, and three-bedroom homes are expected to combat the region’s largest year-round employer, with approximately 850 employees, which has a 22% annual turnover.
According to the hospital’s website, 56% of staff lived in the Jackson area in 2022, down 6% from the previous year. The town and county plan to house 65% of the total workforce locally.
Jackson has been concerned for years that the state legislature may intervene in their affordable housing program. Gordon is concerned, even though no legislation was introduced during the previous session.
“I want to make sure that Wyoming remembers what I’ve always believed as a Republican: local government closest to the people is the best government,” he told reporters.
The hospital is building the apartments in three phases, costing $54 million.
A specific purpose excise tax approved by Teton County voters in 2022 for $24 million, collected over time, will cover roughly half of the cost. The remaining funds will be raised by the hospital and its private fundraising arm, the St. John’s Health Foundation.
Anna Olson, the foundation’s president, says the hospital is taking on approximately $25 million in debt. They intend to pay it off in part through rent, which is subsidized at 50% of the market rate.
“We know housing is the number one factor affecting retention,” according to Olson.
In September, the average studio rent in Jackson was $2,723, according to internet aggregator Apartments.com. The most recent Jackson/Teton County Affordable Housing Department study from 2022 found that the average studio and one-bedroom rent was $2,656.
