Council OKs Rose Hills Plan to Bring Mixed‑Income Housing to Former Smelter Site
The East Helena City Council unanimously approved the Rose Hills neighborhood plan, clearing the way for a mixed‑income community on 250 acres of the former ASARCO smelter site. The decision moves the project into engineering with infrastructure construction targeted for spring 2026, a development that could significantly expand affordable housing and public amenities in Lewis and Clark County.
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The East Helena City Council voted unanimously to approve the Rose Hills neighborhood plan, advancing a long‑anticipated redevelopment of 250 acres on the former ASARCO smelter site. The plan, which has undergone years of public review, now proceeds to the engineering phase, with infrastructure construction targeted to begin in spring 2026.
Helena Area Habitat for Humanity is the principal developer envisioning a mixed‑income community that includes varied housing types, trails and parks. The plan’s initial phase calls for 101 lots with the potential to accommodate more than 170 homes as build‑out continues. Organizers and city officials have presented Rose Hills as a project designed to deliver long‑term affordability while creating neighborhood amenities and green space for East Helena residents.
Local leaders framed the decision as a pivotal step in repurposing a prominent parcel tied to the city’s industrial past. The site once housed the ASARCO smelter, and the proposed redevelopment shifts the property’s trajectory toward residential use and community infrastructure. Moving the plan into engineering signals a transition from planning to the practical work of streets, utilities and other essential systems needed to support new housing.
For residents of Lewis and Clark County, the Rose Hills project promises tangible effects on housing availability and neighborhood character. Phase 1’s 101 lots, and the potential for 170-plus homes overall, would add dozens of units to the local market—units that proponents say are intended to remain affordable over the long term. The inclusion of trails and parks in the neighborhood blueprint aims to enhance recreational opportunities and connectivity for nearby neighborhoods, while varied housing types could broaden choices for families, seniors and individuals with differing income levels.
The plan’s passage followed a multi‑year public review process that included community input and regulatory scrutiny. That extended review reflects the complexities of transforming a large, historically industrial site into residential neighborhoods and public spaces, and underscores the local stakes in land use, infrastructure planning and long‑term affordability.
With engineering under way, attention will turn to financing, permitting and the detailed sequencing of construction work ahead of the 2026 infrastructure start. City officials and Helena Area Habitat for Humanity will need to coordinate on timelines, regulatory requirements and community engagement as project elements move forward.
As East Helena prepares for the first construction season, Rose Hills represents a significant local investment in housing and neighborhood revitalization. For many residents, the project offers hope for more affordable options and new community amenities on a site long associated with the city’s industrial history.
