Workforce housing branches out

POYNETTE — In April 2025, Leah White and her aunt moved into an apartment in the new Point Gardens, an 80-acre development just beyond Dane County’s borders in neighboring Columbia County. White said she was seeking housing at an affordable price point and a community that felt safe, healthy and connected.

Her window overlooks a courtyard of community gardens that have yet to awaken, but they’re beautiful during the growing season, she said. White has cultivated tomatoes, strawberries, lettuce and rhubarb.

“I feel like this is the type of neighborhood I had when I was a kid, where people are starting to know everybody, all the kids know everybody,” she said. She added that her new home, while not inexpensive, is more affordable and nicer than other nearby options and offers a better quality of life...