It wasn't the fact that her friends had gathered for Christmas, nor was it the turkey dinner they brought, or the decorations that enhanced a festive and cozy atmosphere.
Karen Vance, a 13-year resident of Ketchum, was celebrating her inaugural meal in her new home, the first she has ever owned.
"It was a truly delightful Christmas," she said. "This has pretty much been the highlight of my life. It's a thrill."
Her one-bedroom condo is one of five deed-restricted units in the Frenchman's Place mixed-use building in Ketchum. The new development is located between state Highway 75 and Warm Springs Road, north of downtown.
Vance started moving in Christmas Eve day.
"It's been a flurry," she said.
Vance relaxed in her home Tuesday morning, taking in the ambiance of her new digs.
"I really feel I belong here," she said.
She edged her way around a Christmas tree and peeked out the patio doors.
"I've always wanted an eastern exposure for the sun," she said.
"And here's the best part." She opened a door to reveal a new washer and dryer.
"They came with the place," she said.
Additions from her artist friends, such as lamps, sculptures and paintings, will help personalize her space.
"We're going to paint the walls really cool colors," she said. "Red on this one, golden buttercup yellow over there. The kitchen will be apple green. The bedroom's going to be blue. Very restful."
Vance is one of hundreds, maybe thousands, of residents who want to buy homes in the valley but are shut out because of exorbitant market-rate prices.
Cities and the county are stepping up efforts to build or buy more workforce housing units in order to keep a mix of people living and working locally.
Affordable housing helps establish a year-round community with people like Vance, who works at an event-supply business and plays the flute at private functions.
"This is what it's all about, essential (services) people and people who make a long-term commitment," said Michael David, executive director of the Blaine-Ketchum Housing Authority, which promotes and oversees the allocation of affordable units.
David said that although 1,000 affordable-housing units are needed in the Wood River Valley, only 100 units are in the works.
"Especially in Ketchum, affordable housing brings back some of the vibrancy and sense of community by having year-round residents," David said.
Vance said affordable housing benefits all Wood River Valley residents.
"Without affordable housing, people like me will leave," she said. "I contribute to the community. I play my music in the community. I want to be involved in the community. If people cannot afford to stay here, the businesses that rely on local people to work are not going to be able to stay in business."
Vance put her name in the affordable housing pool back in October 2004.
"It was a time in my life when I was thinking about where I wanted to be," she said. "I wanted to stay here. I wanted roots."
Her biggest hesitation was making the commitment to be financially attached to a place, she said.
"That part of me finally caught up with my soul wanting to be here," she said. "I thought, if I can't find something here, I'll move away. But I absolutely didn't want to do that."
Once Vance realized she wanted to buy a home, she began a long and sometimes difficult process of learning about buying a home.
To make sure she did it right, she attended a home-buying class offered through the College of Southern Idaho and talked with the Idaho Housing and Finance Administration.
She credits the efforts of the Housing Authority and the passion of Rebekah Helzel, founder of Advocates for Real Community Housing, with helping her achieve her goal, and notes the enthusiasm from friends and neighbors.
"I have been so overwhelmed by the support from people from all walks of life," Vance said.
She gives a nod to developers and planners who designed the mixed-use building, bringing together light-industrial workers, market-rate homeowners and deed-restricted homeowners.
"We all blend together," Vance said. "It helps us be a community, and that's what everyone says is missing here."
Frenchman's Place in Ketchum is a new mixed-use building with light industrial and retail space, market-rate condos and deed-restricted units. Karen Vance was able to buy a one-bedroom unit in the building this year. Photo by Willy Cook
