Council asks Wolford about affordable housing

The Daily Inter Lake

The Kalispell City Council didn't even bother hinting.

Council members asked developer Chad Wolford on Monday if Glacier Town Center's 632 housing units (houses and apartments) would include "affordable housing."

Wolford told the council that Wolford Development Montana would explore the concept, likely with local builders.

Council member Randy Kenyon noted that Glacier Town Center's commercial hub will employ hundreds of service industry workers - a demographic that is hit hard locally by the lack of affordable housing.

"In terms of affordable housing, I think it would be fantastic for people to be working and living in the same neighborhood," Kenyon said.

He wondered if the council could require Glacier Town Center to ensure some of its future homes fall in a defined "affordable" price range.

The local definition of "affordable housing" is fluid.

Flathead County's median income is $49,000 a year - meaning half of the families earn above that mark and half below.

Local housing experts say a family earning $49,000 can realistically afford homes of up to $150,000. But very few houses sell for $150,000 or less in the Flathead.

A few months ago, a Daily Inter Lake check of families making $20,000 to $40,000 annually had them pegging affordable housing at no more than $120,000 to $130,000.

Interviews with local developers put affordable housing in the $160,000 to $225,000 range.