Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading.
Thank you for reading! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Welcome! We hope that you enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribe purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribe purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Thank you for signing in! We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content.
Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription or log into an existing subscription to continue reading the Idaho Mountain Express.
Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription or log into an existing subscription to continue reading the Idaho Mountain Express.
Your current subscription does not provide access to this content.
Sorry, no promotional deals were found matching that code.
Promotional Rates were found for your code.
Plentiful sunshine. High 89F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..
Clear skies. Low 57F. Winds light and variable.
Serving Sun Valley, Ketchum, Hailey, Bellevue and Carey
Local developer Kris Dondero is planning to demolish the Blue Haven development in south Ketchum—pictured here—as well as the nearby J&J trailer park to the north to make room for a high-density workforce housing project.
Local developer Kris Dondero is planning to demolish the Blue Haven development in south Ketchum—pictured here—as well as the nearby J&J trailer park to the north to make room for a high-density workforce housing project.
Sun Valley-based developer Rock Rolling Properties shared plans this week to redevelop the three-acre McHanville neighborhood about 2 miles south of Ketchum into workforce housing by 2023.
Rock Rolling Properties owner and developer Kris Dondero stated in a Tuesday press release that the project’s layout would maximize space and improve the overall aesthetic of the area. In an emailed response to questions Thursday, Dondero declined to specify what type of units he hoped to build but said he would make project details and renderings available during “the first half of 2022.”
“It is too early in the development process to provide specifics on the design, zoning, etc.,” he wrote.
The McHanville neighborhood—adjacent to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center—spans two adjoining 1.5-acre lots bounded by Hospital Drive and state Highway 75.
The northern lot is currently occupied by about a dozen mobile homes circled around J&J Trailer Park Road, while the southern lot is occupied by seven single-family homes in the Blue Haven development. County Assessor Jim Williams estimated that there are currently “close to 56 people” living in the 20 units across both lots.
Assuming the project will advance through the county’s design-review and building permit review process, Dondero said his plan was to break ground in the summer and make the new units available by 2023.
“The critical shortage of affordable workforce housing is the No. 1 challenge faced by employers and employees in Blaine County, and I am excited to play a role in providing a solution,” he stated. “My vision is to create a tight-knit north valley community where essential Blaine County workers can afford to live without a long commute.”
"My vision is to create a tight-knit north valley community."
Dondero said his existing tenants at Blue Haven and the J&J home park have been given six months to relocate and all mobile home tenants will receive rent rebates.
“Most importantly, I want to provide the current tenants an abundance of time to assist with the transition,” he told the Express. “I will be working with the tenants in an effort to help them find new housing and/or new locations for their mobile homes.”
The developer added that he planned to hire local consultants for the project design and development.
“We are focused on creating an outstanding project that fits the character of this valley,” he said.
On Wednesday, neither Kathy Grotto, deputy director of Blaine County’s Land Use and Building Services department, nor Williams said they had heard anything about the development proposal. Grotto said the county had not received any pre-application materials from Dondero.
The McHanville neighborhood currently sits in Blaine County’s R-0.4, or Medium Density Residential zoning district, which was formed in the 1970s to accommodate mobile home parks, live-work units and boat, camper and trailer storage, as well as home occupation facilities such as daycares.
Fifty years ago, the R-0.4 zone’s minimum lot size—0.4 of an acre—was deemed sufficient for individual sewage disposal. But the zone was declared “inactive” in 2006 due to stricter well and septic standards, according to Grotto. The zone’s inactive status means no land can be reclassified as R-0.4, though properties that were grandfathered in can maintain the designation, Grotto said.
“It only applies to some lands that were zoned R-0.4 back in the 1970s. That is because currently the South Central Public Health District requires one acre of land per home on an individual well and septic, as most homes in the unincorporated county [have],” she said.
The McHanville neighborhood is also overlaid by the Community Housing Overlay District, which allows for a base density of 12 units per acre plus additional units of deed-restricted housing and other commercial uses, Grotto said.
The county’s community-housing district applies to areas “considered suitable for the development of a compact community and other housing given the proximity to centralized water and sewer services, transportation facilities and areas of employment.”
Both the Blue Haven and J&J Trailer Park lots have a collective land value of about $826,000, according to Williams.
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Your comment has been submitted.
There was a problem reporting this.
@ Bill Miles, historically McHanville , Timmerman Hill and North Fork Store were all work force housing. The head of county P&Z, at the time 1970's and a very prominent local women did everything they could to down zone these areas and stop what they considered the unsightly presents of trailer parks and they mostly succeeded. I don't know how many WFH trailers are there now but there will not be as many units available in this proposed project. And why can't these 56 people be temporarily housed somewhere else and then rehabilitate in the new development ? This proposed development is about affordable housing, which is really condos with just a few WFH to sweeten the deal. Look a the trend in Hailey, they let developers build 12 units on a postage stamp size lot with a few deed restricted units, no open space, 1 parking space for a 3 bedroom unit. This is the new developer hustle and local governments go for it, it's tax revenue and these units go for upwards of 500k. Considering the cost of land, labor, building materials and profit there's no way this will be a WFH project in any meaningful way. Also, after all the wavers and variances it will be jammed packed, maybe 3 stories. I don't object to the idea of high density building in this area, I object to the deception and the hustle which this developer is using.
Seems like the mobile home park in this area is already workforce housing, and there is no need to kick people out to rebuild.
I read this article with excitement. Yes 56 people will need to move but as mentioned in the article Mr. Dondero will help with this and give people a decent amount of time relocate and rental assistance to do so. The Meadows is about to expand their trailer park, a possible place for people to relocate to. I would encourage people to halt their comments of Mr. Dondero's project until more details are available to the public.
You forgot to mention the number of business that will be displaced, 10.
"The Meadows is about to expand their trailer park, a possible place for people to relocate to", so the plumbing and electrical and other business are going to relocate to the Meadows? People react to "Work force Housing" like Pavlov Dogs when they here these words and that's why developer use this as a come on for public support. St Lukes will want unit donated because they never intended to provide for their employees, same with Merriot. This location will be high density condos.
And no, the public should call out the hustle. More, more, more is all I hear from the newbies.
Gwen, even with 6 months these existing people won’t find an affordable place to move. This is the problem; tear down existing affordable housing to build high density market rate housing with a smattering of work force rate housing in to get it passed through P&Z.
"Dondero declined to specify what type of units he hoped to build but said he would make project details and renderings available during “the first half of 2022.”
This another "Big Lie", this guy is going to develop condos for skiers and bait local government down a path of private property rights and maybe offer a few crumbs of
So...displace 56 locals, many of whom will have to leave the valley, to house how many workers? This will enrich the developer, but no one else, imho.
How do you know "but no one else"? This is currently low density workforce housing in a good location for higher density workforce housing. Could it be double or triple the current capacity? But I am 100% with you that the current tenants are bearing the cost of our decades of policy failures.
We seem fine with developers making money off of affordable housing--look at GMD/Bluebird. At least this guy is doing it on land he owns rather than getting a freebie on some of the most valuable property in the state of Idaho. And unlike in tax credit financed housing, he won't be creating a permanent tax payer funded housing entitlement for a relatively small number of people regardless of how their income rises (see the video of the last City Council meeting on Bluebird).
"This is currently low density workforce housing", no it isn't, it's traditionally been light industrial and if you have lived here for any length of time you would know that.
"Could it be double or triple the current capacity" Sure,but "Should" it be that high of density housing. Does anybody have any ideas other than more, more, more. "At least this guy is doing it on land he owns" well a this time he doesn't own all the land and after he pays top dollar to acquire it nothing will be affordable. I can't believe how clueless you are.
Bluebird is NOT a money maker. Clearly you are misinformed. Educate yourself to the truth. I know the numbers, you could easily find them out. He could make more than double building an apartment building anywhere else. Do you ever say anything positive for anything?
Where can we find the numbers? Thanks.
Work force housing has become the golden fleece for developers and banker. Soon the valley will be wall to wall shipping container housing, it's cheap. What if the business that are there don't want to sell?
My concern is for the 56 people who will be dislocated. Where will they live? What will be the price point for rental or purchase housing in this development? Can we get some impact funding from the community to keep this a locals only development? How about deed restrictions for those who live and work in our county?
Those are good ideas. Kudos to Mr. Dondero for working to Increase density of existing workforce housing around the hospital. It's great to see this coming from the private sector. Given that this doesn't look to be a tax credit deal, deed restrictions for local workers could work. If I was a major employer (Limelight, St Lukes) I would be calling Mr. Dondero asap to see if I could get some units. If I was a county commissioner, I would be calling him to find out what he had in mind and how the county can help him get this done.
"If I was a major employer (Limelight, St Lukes) ". This is a great incentive for more Marriots type developments not to provide housing for their employees. "If I was a county commissioner", apparently if you were a county commissioner that wouldn't any room to turn around in the valley.
"working to Increase density of existing workforce housing around the hospital."
Perry your fooling yourself, this project will be vacation ski condos. If so-called
"affordable housing" is going upwards of 500k in Hailey, what do you think these proposed unit will go for 750k or more
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Would you like to receive our news updates? Signup today!
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!
If you're interested in advertising with us, fill out this form to get more information.