Take some of the edge off…

The members of the Board of Zoning and Architectural Review (BOZAR) want you to know that Caddis Flats is not yet a “done deal.” Some of them are a little frustrated that people think it is done and approved and there is no room to move. There is room to move. My gut says it comes in inches instead of yards but the final plan will look somewhat different from what is on the table today. The BOZAR is actually quite good at making projects look better as the sometimes-torturous process goes on.
However, the three-story, 21,000-square-foot building accommodating 30 affordable housing units has cleared the board’s concept and general plan phases. There is one more major approval at the building permit stage and between now and then there will be meetings to iron out details.

BOZAR members are asking for more “public input.” They truly do rely on it when making some decisions. They’ve heard the concerned whispers and talk on the street about the location and size. But few people are coming to the meetings to voice their concerns. And I doubt they will. No one wants to be “That Guy” speaking up against Crested Butte affordable housing.
So I’ll pass along what I (and they) keep hearing. Yes, affordable housing is a good thing for Crested Butte and the upper valley. Having workers live here has a ton of benefits and speaks well of a holistic community. The team of Bill Coburn and Karl Fulmer are open to suggestions and taking needed steps to put together a solid, long-term project that won’t fall into disrepair.
But I’ll bet a dime to a dollar that the town will approve a big building on that site. And in my opinion it is the size and scale at that site that is the nagging issue. It will be a tight fit on that land at the entrance to town. There will be times of big congestion. Big snowstorms like we had last week will make the parking situation “interesting.” As someone who is a conceptual backer of the idea pointed out to me last week, the structure will be looming over you when you come out of Clark’s Market. I think the general design is coming along and looking good. Rents at the project don’t honestly seem like a super great savings over the free market in Crested Butte or Mt. Crested Butte at the moment. The BOZAR has made it clear more landscaping is a necessity. It seems like the proponents have considered most scenarios and are working diligently to address any shortcomings and take into consideration the concerns of neighbors.

One idea I really liked that came out of the Caddis Flats BOZAR meeting last week was from Coburn. He pointed out a “great town opportunity” at the corner of Sixth and Belleview just east of the proposed housing project. He said the town owned enough property just off the main road to accommodate a significant art/landscaping project. That’s a great idea.
Putting something interesting and welcoming at the first stop into Crested Butte is a wonderful inspiration. In the same vicinity as great parks and green space and not too far from a metal knight and dragon, there is indeed a great town opportunity. It would benefit the large housing project but could also offer a reception into town with art that could set us up with a cool first impression and take the edge off the biggest buildings in town. That idea is in limbo but worth seriously considering.

So in some ways, it is not a “done deal.” But the majority of the Town Council, the town staff and the BOZAR have made it clear they are willing to make some trade-offs with the size to get an affordable housing project built in Crested Butte.
And I have no doubt they will. I don’t believe there will be a rejection of the building project. Now the town and developers should perhaps focus on some work that takes a bit of the edge off of the size. I’ll bet a dime to a dollar that could make at least some of the street whispering stop—and following up on a “great opportunity” employing interesting art and impactful landscaping is rarely a bad thing.