MOSCOW — The Moscow City Council on Monday gave its approval to finance a study exploring the possibility of a new elementary school on the south side of the city.

The city and the Moscow School District are in discussions about constructing an elementary school on city-owned property along West Palouse River Drive.

Moscow purchased the 44-acre property in 2002 to develop athletic playfields. It never went through with that plan because of the high cost to build those playfields, which was estimated at $8 million in 2011.

The school district is interested in building an elementary school on that property to create a more even distribution of elementary school locations in Moscow. McDonald and Lena Whitmore elementary schools, for example, are both on the east side of the city.

City Supervisor Bill Belknap said Moscow School District is having discussions about building a new elementary school within the next five years.

The city and the school district will split the cost of the study if it is approved by the Moscow School Board on Wednesday. Belknap said the study is expected to cost under $50,000 and will be completed over the course of six to nine months.

The study will assess pedestrian access, vehicular access, site grading and parking. According to the city staff report, the study does not obligate the city or the school district to take any further actions. The city and district will mutually agree on the design professional in charge of the study.

The city and the school district are also exploring the potential development of a city park and additional athletic fields on that property, as well.

According to Belknap, the 44-acre property would likely not be large enough for a new high school.

Housing authority

Also on Monday, the city council heard a presentation about the benefits of creating a Latah County housing authority.

A housing authority is a separate government entity that would focus on addressing the county’s affordable housing shortage, according to Latah County Commissioner Kathie LaFortune and Sojourners Alliance Director Casey Bolt.

“I view it as an entity that will just be laser-focused on this issue and will be looking at all options to try and solve it,” Bolt told the council.

A housing authority could buy land and buildings. It can also plan, manage and finance housing developments.

A housing authority cannot collect taxes, LaFortune said, but it can apply for grants and accept donations.

Bolt said nearly 160 homes are needed per year to meet demand between now and 2032 in Latah County. Bolt said the data shows Moscow ranks second-worst for housing affordability in the region, behind only Riggins.

Home prices are 60% higher than pre-pandemic prices, and more than a third of Latah County residents earn less than $35,000 per year in income, according to Bolt’s data. Much of the population is extremely burdened, meaning the resident pays more than 50% of the person’s income toward housing.

He said new housing in Moscow tends to be high-priced units for college students. He pointed to The Empire apartments on Pullman Road, which charges $895 to $995 per month.

Nils Peterson, director of the Moscow Affordable Housing Trust, said he believes a Latah County housing authority would be a natural successor to his nonprofit, which provides affordable homes to qualified buyers.

Peterson said he estimates the Moscow Affordable Housing Trust will produce 10% of all new houses in Moscow this year.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.