Teton County Family Proposes Largest Non-Luxury Housing Development in 30 Years

The Gill family's 553-home project would dedicate 70% of units to affordable housing under perpetual price caps.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:39pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life featuring a collection of premium, polished geometric objects in muted earth tones and soft shadows, conceptually representing the abstract corporate strategy and financial considerations behind an affordable housing development project.A conceptual still life captures the careful financial planning and community-focused approach behind this rare affordable housing development in Teton County.Jackson Today

A Teton County family has submitted a proposal for a new 553-home neighborhood south of Jackson, which would be the first major non-luxury residential development in the area in over 30 years. The Gill family plans to convey 45 of the 74 total acres to nonprofit groups like the Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust and Habitat for Humanity, who will build 388 price-capped homes for residents making under 120% of the area median income. The remaining 165 homes would be sold on the free market.

Why it matters

Teton County, home to Jackson Hole, has struggled for years to provide affordable housing options for essential workers like nurses and snowplow drivers who serve the ultra-wealthy residents. Most workers currently commute from neighboring communities or live in government-subsidized housing projects with income restrictions. This project represents a rare opportunity to increase the supply of non-luxury homes in the county.

The details

The Gill family, a sixth-generation Teton County ranch family, submitted their development plan application to the county last week. If approved, it would be the first major non-luxury residential neighborhood of over 100 homes in Teton County since 1995. The project spans 74 acres, with the Gills conveying 45 acres to nonprofit groups to build the price-capped homes. This fulfills a county requirement for 70% of the homes to be deed-restricted for affordability. The remaining 165 homes would be sold on the open market. The development will also require new traffic mitigation impact fees on each home to fund future road improvements.

  • The Gill family submitted their development plan application to Teton County on April 6, 2026.
  • Teton County Commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of the project's master site plan in May 2025.
  • If approved, it will likely be another 2 years before construction can begin on any homes.

The players

Teton County

The county in Wyoming where Jackson Hole is located, known for its high cost of living and struggle to provide affordable housing for essential workers.

The Gill Family

A sixth-generation Teton County ranch family proposing the 553-home development project.

Jackson Hole Community Housing Trust

A nonprofit organization that is expected to build price-capped homes on the 45 acres conveyed by the Gill family.

Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area

A nonprofit organization that is expected to build price-capped homes on the 45 acres conveyed by the Gill family.

Mark Newcomb

The Teton County Commission Chair who has supported the Gill family's project so far.

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What they’re saying

“We are part of the solution. It can't be that the only housing solutions are subsidized, government projects — that will be like trying to fill a bathtub with a teaspoon — after 30 years of delayed need.”

— Robert Gill, Nikki Gill's dad

“Even houses like the Gills are proposing, if there were no restrictions, they'd get quickly bought up by outside money.”

— Mark Newcomb, Teton County Commission Chair

What’s next

If the Teton County Commissioners approve the Gill family's development plan, the project will still require additional infrastructure-related permits from the county, the town of Jackson, and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. Nikki Gill expects the county to vote on the application around November 2026, but Newcomb hopes the process can move faster.

The takeaway

This proposed development represents a rare opportunity to increase the supply of non-luxury, price-capped housing in Teton County, which has struggled for decades to provide affordable options for essential workers serving the ultra-wealthy residents of Jackson Hole. While the project faces some traffic concerns, it demonstrates the county's willingness to work with private developers on creative solutions to the affordable housing crisis.