Legacy Lodge At Jackson Hole is a former assisted living center that was purchased in April 2021 by Stage Stop Inc., a local hotelier that operates Hotel Jackson. The building is located in the Rafter J subdivision and consists of 57 studio, one-, and two-bedroom units, as well as a large communal space and commercial kitchen. Since its acquisition, there have been efforts to rezone the building from commercial to residential in order to provide housing for local workers. The County Commissioners have supported this initiative, which aims to offer 57 deed-restricted units for workforce housing without the need for public subsidy.
Despite facing multiple lawsuits from a small group of neighbors regarding the approval for local workers to live in Legacy Lodge, the project has moved forward with the approval of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) and Conditional Use Permit (CUP). These approvals have set forth conditions such as requiring all units to have full kitchens, minimum lease terms of six months, fire inspections, and an occupancy limit of 99 people. The owners of Legacy Lodge plan to master lease units to businesses, who will in turn lease them to their qualifying employees for workforce housing.
While Legacy Lodge may not be a perfect solution for everyone, it represents a step towards addressing housing insecurity in Teton County. The owners are exploring options such as office permitting in case the use of the building for lodging is halted due to litigation. The property owners will need approval from 65% of Rafter J homeowners to move forward with their plans, and they are also subject to compliance with Rafter J Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions (CCRs). The County Commission has no jurisdiction over Rafter J CCRs, which require 65% homeowner approval for any changes.
It is important to note that Legacy Lodge is private property, and the decision to house workers in the building is at the discretion of the owners. The goal is to provide affordable housing opportunities for local workers without the need for additional public subsidy. While some concerns have been raised by local neighbors, efforts are being made to address these concerns through the conditions set forth by the CUP. As the project progresses, it will be essential to ensure that qualified individuals are identified and that the deed restrictions are enforced by the Jackson/Teton County Affordable Housing Department.