By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
The Big Sky Community Housing Trust has issued a community housing survey to learn more about residents’ needs and preferences, income levels and other factors that will help with development of the future Cold Smoke workforce housing neighborhood.
The online survey takes roughly five minutes to complete, according to BSCHT Program Manager Becky Brockie, and currently has 352 responses with a goal of at least 500. Responses will be accepted until Sept. 19.
“We are definitely interested in the data to help us choose amenities at Cold Smoke, for example,” Brockie told EBS in a phone call. She explained that the survey will help BSCHT determine areas to cut costs with the goal of ensuring affordability of the for-sale units—if residents express indifference toward factors like fencing, square footage or yard space, for example, design plans could skip those certain factors to reduce costs.
Another key goal for the survey is to gauge income level to determine a more precise level of affordability that Cold Smoke homes need to achieve. Previous data comes from the 2023 housing needs assessment, but the local workforce—and construction landscape, due to rising costs and unpredictable tariff impacts—has changed since the survey.
With accurate information, BSCHT can make “thoughtful, community-driven choices,” Brockie wrote in an email.
BSCHT is also interested in buyer profiles, with factors such as the typical household size of Big Sky residents who might move into the neighborhood.
Roughly 225 community members are on the single-family home purchase waitlist, with roughly 400 on the rental interest list.
“We do believe [demand for Cold Smoke] is there but the survey will help us validate that,” Brockie said.
The community can learn more about Cold Smoke by visiting the BSCHT website, which includes a rough timeline for the project. The housing trust will share more information and detailed plans in the coming months.
