As the Silver Valley experiences renewed economic activity driven by industries such as mining, the region is confronting a familiar North Idaho question: how to accommodate growth without losing its identity. 

The need for affordable and workforce housing has grown alongside that resurgence, but many recent proposals aimed at addressing the issue have faced community opposition. 

One of the clearest examples came in 2025, when LEAP Housing — an Idaho-based nonprofit dedicated to developing affordable housing communities — sought to enter into an agreement with Shoshone County to build a multi-family housing facility in Silverton. 

The proposed site, a two-acre property, had sat as an empty field for at least 30 years. The lot neighbors a youth baseball field, a derelict hospital, and a historic Forest Service building that has since been converted into a bed-and-breakfast. 

The proposal was met with opposition from residents and sparked significant backlash on social media, ultimately leading the county to abandon the agreement. 

Meanwhile, other development projects — including construction of stores such as the now-closed Grocery Outlet, Dollar Tree, Maverik, and the planned demolition and redevelopment of the Wallace Civic Auditorium — received broad community support. Unlike the Silverton proposal, however, none of those projects included housing. 

Across Idaho, state leaders have worked to address housing shortages. Gov. Brad Little and Idaho lawmakers approved several major housing bills over the past two years aimed at boosting development and lowering barriers to construction, particularly for starter homes. The measures require many Idaho cities to allow denser subdivisions with smaller lot sizes, expand access to accessory dwelling units, and permit manufactured homes in more residential zones. 

Supporters say the changes are intended to increase housing supply and improve affordability after years of rapid population growth and rising home prices across the state. The legislation also streamlined portions of the permitting and inspection process for builders, though critics argue the state weakened local zoning control and failed to fully address infrastructure costs tied to new growth. 

Opponents of the reforms argued the state was stripping cities and counties of local zoning authority in favor of “one-size-fits-all” development rules. That has become one of the key arguments across North Idaho, particularly in smaller communities such as the Silver Valley. 

Paige Olsen, executive director of the Silver Valley Economic Development Corporation, has been at the forefront of many of those conversations. She understands the role communities should play in determining what development occurs and where, but she has also seen the other side of the debate — where residents actively push back against attempts to bring change. 

“What I can say is that the concern is real, and it keeps resurfacing because the pressure points aren’t going away,” Olsen said. “We’re trying to figure out how to house a growing workforce while still protecting community identity, maintaining a healthy housing market, and preserving the tax base needed for thriving communities.” 

One of the region’s biggest obstacles to new housing development remains the availability of affordable and buildable land. Over the years, Olsen has worked closely with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, which has emerged as a potential key player in future development opportunities. 

DEQ owns multiple properties in Shoshone County tied to the Bunker Hill Superfund cleanup, including parcels near Government Gulch Road in Kellogg slated for recreation, infrastructure and industrial development. In 2024, DEQ finalized several land transfers and lease agreements involving nearly 200 acres in the Silver Valley. 

“Personally, I think county and DEQ-associated land may ultimately be some of our best opportunities because those properties are at least attainable and theoretically should allow for more affordable development opportunities than privately held land at current market rates,” Olsen said. “I keep my ear to the ground and my hand on the belt loop of just about anyone I can within the DEQ realm because I think those conversations will continue to matter moving forward.” 

Shoshone County continues to navigate the long-term impacts of the Bunker Hill Superfund cleanup. Those issues, along with the county’s historic battle with FEMA over regional flood maps, have added additional layers of red tape for developers to navigate. 

In the past, county leaders have occasionally worked with local communities to find ways through those restrictions, though that has not always been the case. Olsen said she hopes recent changes in county leadership could lead to a more supportive approach toward future development. 

While the current concern is getting any development off the ground, according to CommunityScale.io — a housing forecast platform that uses U.S. Census, Zillow and building permit data — Shoshone County could need as many as 1,000 additional housing units by 2031 to keep pace with projected demand and affordability pressures.

“At the end of the day, I think most people want the same thing: communities that remain strong, livable, and recognizable,” Olsen said. “The hard part is finding realistic ways to allow thoughtful growth without communities feeling like they’re losing control of their identity in the process.”