STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

A red ribbon was cut on the first affordable housing unit at the Ellsworth Inn in Hailey this past week.

Representatives from ARCH Community Housing Trust and the City of Sun Valley cut the ribbon on a remake of what was formerly the caretaker’s unit at the inn on 623 S. 4th Ave., across from The Senior Connection.

“The first unit of affordable housing will go to Sun Valley City employees and they are ready to move in,” said Michelle Griffith, executive director of ARCH.

The newly remodeled unit gleams with white. It includes a white bedroom and a large spacious room for dining and living. A white kitchen features a new stove, refrigerator, sink and formica countertop that looks like white marble.

The exterior features lap siding, composed of long boards that overlap. The metal roofing was retained.

“This was very different than building something from the ground up,” said Griffith. “We started with what we had and tried to be respectful with it.”

Liz Keegan, who volunteers with Blaine County Charitable Fund, watched the ribbon cutting with interest.

“Just before we moved into our condo, we stayed here. It was an older bed and breakfast, and it was at the time of the total solar eclipse so there was no place else to stay,” she said. “I like connections—we’re all in it together. So, I like to see how different entities have come together to do this.”

The City of Hailey got the ball rolling, encouraging the City of Sun Valley to purchase the property for affordable housing. While the inn is not on the National Register of Historic Places, many in Hailey have a love for the old inn and did not want it to be demolished and turned into something that didn’t benefit the citizens of the Hailey.

It is, said Sun Valley Mayor Peter Hendricks, probably the first time there has been such a close partnership between two governments in the Wood River Valley.

In addition to renovating the one-bedroom cottage, ARCH will transform the nine-bedroom Inn into six one-bedroom apartments. It will also build two four-bedroom units and 10-three-bedroom units on the property, which was being tilled as the ribbon cutting ceremony was going on.

The City of Sun Valley has asked for four units for its employees. ARCH will allocate the others to those needing affordable housing on a first come, first serve basis.

Six more units are expected to become available in 10 months, said Griffith

ARCH has secured more than $1.5 million in funding to fund the first phase of renovations. The goal is to ensure ARCH can renovate and build without debt as much as possible since debt-free construction  means revenue stream can be used to build additional housing.

“I cannot believe what ARCH has accomplished with just four employees,” said Herberger, who has channeled millions into ARCH projects over the past few years. “Every dollar they receive is converted into their projects. My heart is filled with joy to be partnering with them.”

DID YOU KNOW?

ARCH currently has a matching grant in place, meaning any funds received will be matched at 50 percent. To learn more, visit https://archbc.org/.