October 22, 2025
City of East Helena Unanimously Approves Rose Hills Neighborhood Plan
Project advances to engineering phase with infrastructure construction slated to begin in spring 2026.
EAST HELENA, Mont. — Last night, the East Helena City Council voted unanimously to approve the neighborhood plan for Rose Hills, marking a major step forward in bringing more attainable housing to the Helena valley.
Helena Area Habitat for Humanity submitted its Rose Hills neighborhood plan to the City of East Helena in December 2024. Following an extensive public review process and a series of unanimous approvals by the East Helena Zoning Board, Planning Board, and City Council, the neighborhood plan now moves forward to engineering and infrastructure design.
Helena Area Habitat for Humanity has worked closely with the City of East Helena to develop the Rose Hills neighborhood proposal. Rose Hills is a mixed-income neighborhood designed to meet the growing need for homes Montanans can afford. With the plan now approved, the project will move into the engineering phase this winter, with construction on streets, utilities, and parks scheduled to begin in spring 2026.
“Rose Hills is about creating opportunity — not just for homeownership, but for community,” said Jacob Kuntz, Executive Director of Helena Area Habitat for Humanity. “We’re grateful to the City of East Helena for their thoughtful review and partnership throughout this process. This approval brings us one step closer to creating a neighborhood for East Helena where Montanans can build stability, opportunity, and lasting connection.”
Helena Area Habitat anticipates infrastructure work to continue through 2026, with the hope to begin home construction by spring of 2027.
When fully built, Rose Hills will feature a variety of housing types — including apartments, townhomes, small single-family homes, and cottage homes— across 250 acres of thoughtfully planned neighborhood space. The development will also include trails, parks, and shared amenities designed to foster connection and sustainability. The first phase of Rose Hills will include 101 building lots with the potential for more than 170 homes, focusing on the types of housing most needed in today’s market.
About Helena Area Habitat for Humanity
Helena Area Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, community, and hope. Since its founding in 1992, the organization has built 83 homes and completed 38 repairs, helping to create stable and affordable housing in the region. Its work focuses on three key areas: homeownership, home repair, and operation of the Helena ReStore. Helena Area Habitat for Humanity is also developing the Rose Hills neighborhood, an innovative mixed-income neighborhood in East Helena. Designed to redefine what a Montana neighborhood can be, Rose Hills is more than a housing development. With 46 acres of parks, trails, and green space, a vibrant town center, and sustainable, community-driven design, it is a place to belong.
CONTACT: Madeline Forbis, Director of Communications, madelinef@helenahabitat.org, 406-201-7314