What if home came with a neighborhood?

People gathered on a porch and sidewalk in a neighborhood on a sunny day. Four women and one man are visible, some sitting and some walking. The porch has white railings with potted plants, and the neighborhood has well-maintained houses with trees and landscaped yards.

Shortgrass Commons is bringing together individuals and families interested in creating a pocket neighborhood in the heart of Helena, Montana - private homes, shared spaces and a greater sense of connection.

A Different Way to Live

Shortgrass Commons is envisioned as a small pocket neighborhood where privately owned homes are gathered around shared common and outdoor spaces.

A charming residential neighborhood with houses featuring gabled roofs, surrounded by lush greenery and well-maintained gardens. Outdoor patio furniture is visible in the foreground.

It is a place where neighbors can share occasional meals, tend a garden, help with community responsibilities and enjoy the everyday connections that grow from living near one another.

The goal is to balance community and cooperation with privacy and independence. Members will help shape the neighborhood together, from its early planning and design through its eventual management.

We are looking for individuals and families who are excited to help bring this vision to life.

At Shortgrass Commons, We Envision…

a big shared garden that will nourish our community

Children and adults harvesting potatoes in a garden, with buckets filled with freshly dug potatoes and green plants surrounding the area.

the opportunity to share a meal with trusted neighbors

A group of five women and one man preparing food in a kitchen, with bowls of salad, sliced vegetables, and various kitchen tools on the counters.

A built in network of neighbors that support one another

Group of people on a porch, with one playing guitar, others singing or listening, and a dog nearby.

An Opportunity to Create Something Together

Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with houses, trees, and streets, with mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Shortgrass Commons is taking shape on a centrally located property in Helena, Montana. We are seeking a community-minded person or household interested in co-purchasing the property and living in the existing move-in-ready home.

The property includes a two-bedroom, one-bath home on a 12,414-square-foot, R-3-zoned lot. A heated two-story shop, unfinished upper level, off-street parking, and additional storage offer flexibility for a variety of uses.

View the Listing

Together, we will explore the development of additional homes to create a small pocket neighborhood inspired by cohousing principles—a place that offers privacy while making it easier for neighbors to connect, share resources, and support one another.

Scroll through property photos below:

Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with houses, trees, a street with cars, and green mountains in the background on a clear day.
A two-story white house with multiple windows, a metal roof, a porch on the right side, surrounded by a green lawn and trees under a clear blue sky.
Backside of a small white house with a green metal roof, a small porch with a wooden ramp, and a tree on the left side. The yard has grass and scattered yellow dandelions, with a gravel path next to the house. Clear blue sky with a few clouds.
A backyard with a grassy lawn, trees, a concrete patio, and the side of a house under a blue sky.
A backyard with a concrete patio, green grass, trees with fresh leaves, a small white shed, and a clear blue sky.
Backyard of a house with a newly built porch, green lawn, trees, and neighboring houses under a blue sky.
Backyard of a house with a grassy lawn, a stone-bordered garden bed, a concrete walkway, a small wooden porch with a green roof, and a large tree, under a bright blue sky.
A sidewalk leading to a white house with a porch, surrounded by green trees and lawn, with a black mailbox on a wooden post in the foreground.
A suburban backyard with a large tree, green grass, and a sidewalk in front of a white house with multiple windows. There are other trees and a clear blue sky in the background.
Backyard of a house with green grass, trees, and a clear sky.
Empty kitchen with white cabinets, a stainless steel double sink, four windows, tiled floor, and a small room with a window and baseboard heater.
Empty kitchen with white cabinets, a white refrigerator, a stove, and a window overlooking a grassy yard.
Empty kitchen with white appliances, including a refrigerator and stove, beige tile flooring, and white cabinets. A doorway leads to a laundry area with a washing machine. The walls are white, and there is a simple ceiling light.
Floor plan of a house showing rooms with dimensions, including primary bedroom, bedroom, living room, room, kitchen, dining area, bath, laundry, and an additional room.
Floor plan of a two-story house showing a garage and foyer on the first floor, and a large room and hall on the second floor.
Floor plan of a garage measuring 20'3" x 41'4", with adjacent hall and foyer areas, and stairs leading up.
Floor plan showing a large room measuring 20 feet 3 inches by 41 feet 4 inches and a hall measuring 12 feet 11 inches by 12 feet 9 inches, with stairs in the hall.
Aerial view of a residential neighborhood with houses, trees, and mountains in the background. Features include houses with green and gray roofs, dirt roads, and electrical poles.

Interested in Helping Shape Shortgrass Commons?

Join Us In-Person

Friday, November 6, 2026
5:30–7:00 p.m. MT
Lewis & Clark Library

Our upcoming information session is the best way to learn more about the opportunity at Shortgrass Commons and connect with the people behind the vision.

Hear more about the property, the move-in-ready home, and the plans to create a small pocket neighborhood inspired by cohousing principles. We’ll share how future residents can help shape, design, and eventually manage a community that balances private homes and independent living with shared spaces, resources, and meaningful connection.

Come ask questions, meet others interested in the opportunity, and explore what it could mean to help create a more connected neighborhood in Helena.

Children are welcome, and refreshments will be served.

Sign up to attend »»»»»»»»

If you are unable to attend, please fill out the form and someone from Shortgrass Commons will reach out to you directly to provide more information.