Columbia Falls
Real Estate
Whitefish Community Foundation awards $120,000 grant for affordable housing
Whitefish Community Foundation recently awarded a $120,000 grant to the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust (NWMTCLT) for the acquisition of four affordable homes in Whitefish.NWMTCLT is a nonprofit organization with a mission of providing affordable homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families in the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana. Under the land trust model, the land underneath the home is separated from the value of the home. The land is owned by NWMTCLT in perpetuity, thereby reducing the purchase price for current and future homebuyers."It's a one-time investment in permanent affordability," NWMTCLT Executive Director Kim Morisaki said.Earlier this year, NWMTCLT...
Legacy Homes program may see changes to fee in lieu option
The Whitefish City Council approved a conditional use permit for a 21-apartment project after adding a condition requiring the developer to build deed restricted units, per the Legacy Homes program, rather than pay a fee in lieu.The developer, JLA Whitefish, LLC., requested a conditional use permit to build 21 apartments on about half an acre on Iowa Avenue. Edgewood Place is along the south of the project and Iowa Avenue is to the west. In order to participate in the Legacy Homes program, 10% of the units, or 2.1 units, need to be deed restricted for affordability or a fee paid...
Apartment project highlights fee in lieu versus affordable housing units
The Whitefish Community Development Board voted to recommend approval for a conditional use permit for a 21-unit multi-family development on Iowa Avenue. The applicants, JLA Whitefish, LLC., are proposing the building on two lots totaling about half an acre at 7 and 23 Iowa Avenue. The property is bordered by Edgewood Place to the south and Iowa Avenue to the west. The property is currently zoned WR-4, higher density residential.The multi-family building would include three one-bedroom units, six two-bedroom units and 12 studio units, according to Whitefish Housing Coordinator Luke Sponable.Sponable said the applicants qualify for Legacy Homes Program incentives because...
City will continue to explore affordable housing at Railroad Street
The Columbia Falls City Council last week gave the nod to moving forward with an affordable housing project at Railroad Street after hearing some assurances from a Habitat for Humanity representative that the houses would be affordable and would remain that way through their lifespan.Preliminary designs have Habitat building about eight homes on the park, which is currently a baseball field. The Northwest Montana Land Trust would eventually take title of the land from the city, thus assuring a price control structure on the land itself.In addition, Habitat requires initial homeowners to provide “sweat equity” in the home by helping...
Housing Whitefish disburses first payments for Whitefish Workforce Assistance Program
Housing Whitefish is pleased to announce the successful distribution of the first payments for the Whitefish Workforce Assistance Program. This initiative, aimed at supporting individuals and families facing housing affordability challenges in the Whitefish area, received 37 applications in this first round of applications. Out of the 37 applications, 17 were approved for assistance. Applicants not approved either paid under 30% of their income towards rent, made over the area median income, or did not meet residency requirements for Whitefish.Over the next 12 months, pending moves, lease terminations, and other factors, Housing Whitefish will disburse a total of $64,620, equating to...
Land trust receives grants for affordable housing
Northwest Montana Community Land Trust received six grants from local lenders that will be matched three to one by the FHLB Des Moines for a total of $90,000. The grants will be used as part of the funding for six affordable homes in Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Whitefish, according to the land trust.“This grant opportunity allowing local lenders to partner with FHLB Des Moines came at the perfect time for our fundraising,” said Executive Director Kim Morisaki. “Wells Fargo, Glacier Bank, Whitefish Credit Union, Park Side Credit Union, First Interstate Bank and Three Rivers Bank all provided grant funds toward the...
This $8 Million Treehouse-Inspired Home in Montana Is a Fresh Take on a Classic A-Frame
Considered one of Montana’s most picturesque towns, Whitefish is a year-round destination at the edge of Glacier National Park within the Rocky Mountains. In winter, it’s one of the state’s top skiing towns, and come summer, it offers outdoor pursuits from hiking to lakeside activities on Whitefish Lake.Georgina Bloomberg Just Sold a Spare Manhattan Apartment for $4 Million Traditional cabin-style design reigns supreme in this mountain town, yet this chic A-frame treehouse brings bold style to those seeking a mountain home with a more modern flair. Situated in an exclusive gated community called The Homestead, this one-of-a-kind treehouse-inspired home can be yours for just under...
CFAC, Ruis announce sale agreement for 2,400 acres of land
The Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. has agreed to sell 2,400 acres of land it owns to Columbia Falls developer Mick Ruis.The property includes the warehouses and former plant site. CFAC will continue to own the landfills and a buffer around them, company officials said Monday, which amounts to about 200 acres.The transaction is expected to close once the Environmental Protection Agency releases the Record of Decision on the Superfund cleanup, which focuses on landfills at the site.The remainder of the property is an idyllic mix of trees and meadows that haven’t been touched in decades.Ruis has plans for attainable housing,...
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