Jackson and Teton County move project forward for 221‑unit Virginian workforce housing; staff seek public funding and protections

Town and county elected officials voted March 9 to advance the 90 Virginia Lane affordable and workforce housing project — known as the Virginian — while directing staff to finish development documents and extend the development‑agreement timeline to May 4, 2026.

The housing authority and staff presented the project as a 5.15‑acre, NH‑1‑zoned site in Midtown that would deliver 221 permanently protected homes, including 161 rental units and 60 for‑sale units. April Thornton, Housing Director, said staff recommends building the rental phase first to deliver units quickly and to put on‑site shared amenities that serve the entire campus. "Building one delivers 161 homes quickly, which is the greatest immediate impact for our workers and their families," Thornton said.

Developers and funders outlined the financing plan and the public ask. Shannon Cox Baker, regional vice president for Penrose, said Penrose has invested more than $500,000 in predevelopment, plans another $2 million before permits, and expects to secure about $100 million in conventional debt plus private equity. Penrose asked the town and county to confirm an…