LIHTC Atlas
Menu

Helena, Montana · Lewis and Clark County

Fire Tower Apartments

Fire Tower Apartments is a low-income housing tax credit (Section 42) property at 6 South Park Avenue, Helena, MT 59602 with 44 income-restricted apartments out of 44, placed in service in 2021. In 2026 a household of four qualifies for a 60% unit here with income up to $70,620, and a 60% two-bedroom can charge at most $1,588 a month in gross rent.

Check whether your household income qualifies

Equal housing opportunity. Fair Housing Act protections apply, and tax credit properties can't turn down a Housing Choice voucher. Report discrimination to HUD at 1‑800‑669‑9777. LIHTC Atlas doesn't own, manage or rent these apartments.

Full fair housing notice

Tax credit properties must follow the Fair Housing Act, which bars discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status or national origin, and they may not refuse an applicant because the applicant holds a Housing Choice (Section 8) voucher (IRC 42(h)(6)(B)(iv)). Properties HUD lists as senior housing may limit who lives there by age only as the Fair Housing Act's housing-for-older-persons exemption allows. To report housing discrimination, call HUD at 1‑800‑669‑9777.

LIHTC Atlas does not own, manage or rent these apartments and does not take applications. Contact each property's management for availability, rents and income rules. Listings come from HUD's database and may be out of date.

44Apartments
44Income-restricted
2021Placed in service
about 2035Compliance period ends

Property facts

Address
6 South Park Avenue, Helena, MT 59602 (map)
County
Lewis and Clark County
Apartments
44
Income-restricted apartments
44
Bedrooms
25 one-bedrooms, 19 two-bedrooms
Who it serves (HUD)
Seniors, families
Placed in service
2021
Credits allocated
2020
Construction
Acquisition and rehab
Credit type
4% (30% present value credit)
Nonprofit sponsor
No
Census tract (2020)
30049000702
HUD project ID
MTA20210008

Source: HUD's national LIHTC database (LIHTCPUB, revised May 28, 2026; projects placed in service through 2024), as the state allocating agency reported it. HUD lists the property as still monitored for compliance. Contact the property's management for current rents, availability and income rules.

2026 income limits and rents in Lewis and Clark County

To rent an income-restricted apartment here in 2026, a household's income has to be at or under the unit's limit: $49,380 for one person or $70,620 for four at 60% of area median, $41,150 or $58,850 at 50%. HUD's FY2026 median family income for the area (Lewis and Clark County, MT HUD Metro FMR Area) is $122,400.

HUD's record lists the property's elected income test as Income averaging. Under income averaging each unit is designated at a level from 20% to 80% and the designations average 60% or less, so limits differ by unit; the property can tell you which apply.

Income limits by household size, 2026

Level1 person2 people3 people4 people
50% AMI$41,150$47,050$52,950$58,850
60% AMI$49,380$56,460$63,540$70,620

Maximum gross monthly rent by unit size, 2026

LevelStudio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
50% AMI$1,028$1,102$1,323$1,530$1,707
60% AMI$1,234$1,323$1,588$1,836$2,049

Source: HUD FY2026 MTSP income limits (files dated March 27, 2026). Rents are ceilings, gross of the utility allowance for tenant-paid utilities, computed by the IRS Publication 5913 method (30% of the limit for 1 person in a studio or 1.5 people per bedroom, over 12, rounded down); the rent the property charges can be lower. A project's limits can't fall below those of earlier years (IRC 142(d)(2)(E)), so a property already in service may use higher figures. All 2026 limits for Lewis and Clark County, every level from 20% to 80%.

How long the units stay affordable

15-year compliance period: 2021 to about 2035. It starts with the first year of the credit period, which is the year the building was placed in service or, if the owner elects, the next year, so it can run a year later, through 2036 (IRC 42(f)(1), 42(i)(1)). It is still running in 2026.

Extended use: 2050 at the earliest. The extended use agreement keeps the units income-restricted for at least 15 years after the compliance period, 30 years in all; that is the federal minimum, and many state agencies require longer (IRC 42(h)(6)(D)).

HUD's record says the state agency set an affordability period of 46 years for this property, which would run to about 2066.

After year 14 an owner can ask the state agency to find a buyer at the "qualified contract" price; if none is found, the extended use period can end early, with three more years of protection for existing tenants, unless the agreement waives that right, as many states require (IRC 42(h)(6)(E)-(F)). The recorded agreement governs; ask the state agency for this property's terms.

QCT and DDA status

Its 2020 census tract, 30049000702, is not a Qualified Census Tract on HUD's 2027 list. ZIP code 59602 doesn't match a 2027 Small Difficult Development Area ZCTA.

For the year it was placed in service, HUD's record puts the property not in a Qualified Census Tract, on that year's tract boundaries.

The 2027 lists (HUD, Federal Register Doc. 2026-20390) govern allocations made after 2026, such as a resyndication; the property's original basis boost depended on the lists in force when it received credits. A ZIP code and its ZCTA usually match but not always. Check an exact address with the QCT and DDA lookup.

Other tax credit properties in Helena

All 19 properties in Helena. Nearby cities: Butte (12), Belgrade (5), Great Falls (19), Bozeman (19), Livingston (5), Missoula (31).

How tax credit apartments work

Rent in an income-restricted unit is capped by the unit's size, not set by your income, and you qualify if your household earns at or under the unit's limit, usually 50% or 60% of the area median. You can apply with a Housing Choice voucher. How to qualify, step by step.