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Depot Park Townhomes

By Nathan Dugan · December 20, 2022

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PASSED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON 12/19/2022

A Whitefish Housing Authority development, located in the heart of downtown Whitefish at the corner of Railway and Columbia, near the Whitefish Middle School. Twenty-two (22) below-market-rate affordable 2-bedroom townhomes providing ownership opportunities to those earning 80% - 150% of the area median income.

 

What we like:

  1. 100% AFFORDABLE - housing for teachers, downtown workers, nurses, and many others who make this town run.

  2. Great location - no need to drive to work or school in Whitefish.

See our recommended testimony below.

Meeting date: December 5, 2022

Depot Park Townhomes -100% Affordable.

I mean, what else do we need to say? This is a no-brainer. Below-market-rate homes for our community members. We only wish there were twice as many being proposed.

Homes for Ownership.

These homes allow people who otherwise would not be able to establish themselves in Whitefish to do so - much like many people who moved here 20+ years ago. Homeownership can be important for long-term housing stability, and these below-market-rate homes will facilitate that stability for our community members who are otherwise priced out of the market entirely.

ORAL TESTIMONY

  • Testimony will take place at Whitefish City Hall (upstairs in City Council Chambers) at 7:10 pm on Monday, December 5, 2022.

  • This item will have its own public hearing. When the public hearing is called (after the proposal is presented), you simply need to step to the podium to speak. It is not necessary to sign in to speak. You can provide around 3 minutes of testimony, and the council typically does not answer questions during this time.

  • Not sure what to say? See below!

WRITTEN TESTIMONY

  • Written testimony can be as long or short as you like. Submit by sending an email to [email protected] or click the button below.

  • Written testimony can be submitted at any time before the City Council meeting up until 4 pm on December 5, 2022.

  • Not sure what to say? See below! Or you can simply say, “I support the city council’s unanimous vote of approval for the Depot Park Townhomes proposal - which will provide much-needed deed-restricted affordable ownership homes in the heart of downtown Whitefish.”

 

ORAL/WRITTEN TESTIMONY TEMPLATE

You can use the following testimony as inspiration, to build upon, or as a ready-to-submit letter (after you fill in the blanks). The most important thing is that you send a letter or show up in person. ***This letter is not ready to send - it needs to be edited***

Dear Mayor Muhlfeld and Councilors,

My name is ___________ and I live at/in [your address or general location in Whitefish or elsewhere]. I am requesting that you vote in favor of the Depot Park Townhomes which will provide much-needed affordable ownership homes in a prime location in downtown Whitefish.

Share your own housing story or the housing story of your friends. Have you/they been priced out of the homeownership market despite having a steady income? Have you/they given up on the dream of being able to live in Whitefish long-term and build a community here?

This development proposal will make a meaningful dent in the 975 affordable homes that Whitefish needs to build by 2030 while providing homeownership opportunities to those who have been entirely priced out of the market. This is a vital development proposal that will allow for the continued strength of the Whitefish community for years to come. I would appreciate your yes vote for more workforce housing options in Whitefish.

Thank you.

[your name]

TALKING POINTS

  • 100% affordable housing - we can’t do any better than this.

  • Managed by the Whitefish Housing Authority - strict guidelines to ensure that these homes are utilized exactly as intended.

  • Great design that will be a beautiful addition to the neighborhood.

  • Perfectly located to limit unnecessary vehicular traffic - kids can walk to school, parents can walk to work, and families can walk downtown to shop or for community events.

  • An opportunity for younger generations to establish themselves in Whitefish.

 

About Shelter WF

Shelter WF is a 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to increasing housing abundance and affordability in Whitefish and throughout Montana.

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