Recognizing the cost of living is going up everywhere, but particularly in resort towns, Park City Mountain Resort on Thursday committed to putting $250,000 toward affordable housing in the ski area’s side yard.
The funds originate from EpicPromise, the philanthropic arm of PCMR owner Vail Resorts, and will be distributed over the next three years to the Mountainlands Community Housing Trust. Established in 1993 to address affordable housing issues within Summit and Wasatch counties, the trust is raising money to put toward redeveloping living space at Holiday Village and the Parkside Apartments at the corner of Kearns Boulevard and Park Avenue in Park City.
“Affordable housing is a crisis in many mountain town communities, and Park City is no exception,” Deirdra Walsh, PCMR’s vice president and chief operating officer, said in a news release. “We are continually looking for ways to alleviate that pressure where it matters to our employees, guests and community: here in Summit and Wasatch Counties. Through our financial support of Mountainlands Community Housing Trust, we are confident that we can make a big impact on housing affordability in our community in the coming years.”
Earlier this year, PCMR finished building its first employee housing, which includes space for more than 400 employees near Canyons Village.
Mountainlands preserves and refurbishes pre-existing structures around the two counties and the donation should help chip away at a multi-million dollar project expected to provide or maintain living space for 122 mostly working class households. Mountainlands has also partnered with Bridge 21, a local nonprofit focused on creating neuro-inclusive housing communities.
“With phased redevelopment and inclusive design,” Pat Matheson, the trust’s executive director, said in a press release, “we have a vision of reducing debt through donations and affordable housing investments.”
PCMR’s donation comes on the heels of $4.3 million in cash and in-kind donations in Park City over the past year via EpicPromise funds. It was made on the eve of Live PC Give PC 2022, a 24-hour community fundraising event. Mountainlands set a fundraising goal of $300,000 for the event. The money it raises for the redevelopment project will be matched up to $1 million by the Solomon family of Park City.
