A 26-unit affordable housing project being considered for the Wood River Community YMCA’s south parking lot off Warm Springs Road will not be built.
During a budget workshop Tuesday, the Ketchum City Council voted 3-1 to not proceed with a memorandum of understanding with community housing developers SMR Development and The Pacific Cos. Only Councilwoman Courtney Hamilton voted in favor.
As previously reported by the Mountain Express, concerns were raised during a council meeting on June 16 that construction of the project could violate a 2019 agreement between the city and the YMCA that at least 200 parking spaces remain available there even after potential expansion of the facility. Construction of the proposed housing project would take away 50 of those spaces.
In addition, criteria to obtain federal tax credits toward the project would have required it to have more low-income units, and fewer moderate-income units suitable for public-services workers, than the city wanted.
Councilwoman Amanda Breen said during the meeting that she had heard public comment both for and against the project. Ultimately, she said, she decided this was not the time to move forward on it. Breen said her decision was made based on wanting to wait and see what an expansion of the YMCA might look like.
“I believe all our workers here are essential to our economy, and I’m going to do everything I can to ensure that we have opportunities for all of them,” she said before stating that she would vote against the MOU.
During public comment, community members raised concerns regarding the location of the development and income level requirements for occupancy.
“It’s a children’s zone,” Ketchum resident Susan Whitehill said. “[This puts] a major construction site and more traffic in their path. This not only hinders their early sense of empowerment to be free-range kids in the small mountain town, but it puts them in harm’s way.”
Susan Scovell, a Ketchum Fire District commissioner, said she felt the contract for parking with the YMCA should be honored. She also said that creating housing for first responders, such as firefighters, should be a top priority.
Despite his “no” vote, Councilman Spencer Cordovano emphasized that “this is not signaling that we’ll never do another tax credit project.”
Cordovano also expressed concern about creating more construction-related effects on traffic and said he worried about the strain that such a large scale project may put on the community.
Breen said that there will continue to be opportunity for workforce housing projects in the future, including the Lift Tower Lodge, which will be proposed as a mix of non-tax credit and tax credit housing. The rejection of the MOU will most likely place a higher priority on other housing projects, she said.
Council members said they maintained their belief that workforce housing is essential to the community and a priority for the future.
“They’re the cashiers, they’re the service workers, they’re the cleaners,” Breen said. “They are essential to our economy here in this service-based, tourist town. We need housing for all levels of workers.” 
