EAST HELENA — The city of East Helena unanimously approved the Rose Hills mixed-income neighborhood plan, which has been in the works for over seven years.

East Helena Mayor Kelly Harris said, “I think Rose Hills, being affordable housing, really represents East Helena’s past and brings us into the future, having people have opportunities to work.”

This is part of the two-thousand-acre former Asarco smelter site. It is slowly being transformed into something new.

Part of it is now Prickly Pear Park, which opened this past spring, and these 250 acres will be a neighborhood.

Much of the former East Helena smelter site is being converted into space for the community.

“East Helena creates an opportunity for housing and to build housing where it needs to be, which is near towns where the jobs are, food is, and infrastructure is,” Helena Area Habitat for Humanity director Jacob Kuntz said.

Helena Area Habitat for Humanity submitted its Rose Hills neighborhood plan to the city of East Helena in December 2024.

EAST HELENA — Those who have been working on the former East Helena ASARCO smelter site are now the recipients of a prestigious nationwide award.

The Phoenix Award is for excellence in brownfield redevelopment.

“This community has had to come to grips with their identity,” said Cindy Brooks, the managing principal for the Montana Environmental Trust Group. “For their entire existence, they were a company town that was ASARCO.”

Helena Area Habitat for Humanity has unveiled more details for its new housing development that could break ground in East Helena as early as 2026 and eventually bring in 1,500 homes.

And a Habitat official said they have recently created another nonprofit to deal with land development for the project.

Jacob Kuntz, Habitat’s executive director, talked about the large housing project Friday to about 80 people at the Holter Museum and unveiled its logo and brand:

“Rose Hills: A neighborhood for everyone.”

“It’s a perfect name for what we think we be a transformational community,” he said.

HELENA — Habitat For Humanity of the Helena Area plans to build its new 1,500-home Rose Hill neighborhood on 250 acres south of State Highway 282 in East Helena. The organization encourages the community to bring their questions to a series of upcoming meetings.

“I don't want the city to feel like they're in the dark about what's happening or not knowing. We want to create as many opportunities as possible for the community to interact with what we're attempting to do,” said Jacob Kuntz, Helena Area Habitat for Humanity Executive Director.

Helena Area Habitat for Humanity is having a meeting Friday to allow the public to learn more about the new Rose Hills housing project in East Helena.

There are display hours 3-6 p.m. at East Helena City Hall, 306 E. Main St., followed by a presentation 6-7:30 p.m.

People can learn key details about the project and have questions answered.

The 250-acre project will have seven homes per acre for 1,500-1,700 homes.

It will feature 46 acres of green space, a new school and walkable neighborhoods.

Nearly 300 people gathered at the Kleffner Ranch on Thursday as part of a fundraiser for a Helena Area Habitat for Humanity housing project that will likely change the area forever and eventually provide homes for thousands.

And, they selected Rose Hills as the new name of the East Helena project among two other entries: Eleanor and Belle Park.

The name is in honor of Al and Ann Rose. Al Rose had served as appointed city clerk and water rent collector and then served as police chief from 1951-1968. Ann Rose was assistant clerk and water rent collector.

Ann and Al Rose at their golden anniversary party in August 1975.

Prickly Pear Junction - East Helena's History

“I am thrilled,” their 98-year-old daughter Iris Maness said by telephone Friday. “I know they would be so pleased as I am and I know that if my brother and sister were still alive they would be jumping for joy.”