Few locals turned out for Habitat for Humanity’s last public event this year on its planned 1500-home East Helena subdivision, yet attendees at the Missouri River Brewing gathering on Thursday were able to zero in on the key concern.
“I have friends that have a water issue,” said Helen Fabian, a longtime East Helena resident who has worked on Habitat homes. “All these pipes that broke this winter. You know, the pressure we’re putting on these things.”
The pressure on East Helena’s water system, and potentially on its ambitious housing vision, increased sharply on Wednesday after Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras denied the city’s request for water rights on the former ASARCO smelter lands – the same area Helena-area Habitat for Humanity is eyeing for its 1500-home Rose Hills project, and where developer Oakland hopes to build 4500 homes.
