Plan B workforce housing proposal for Brush Creek Parcel is in the works

Just in case Gatesco’s Plan A falls through

by Toni Todd

Gunnison County commissioners learned this week there’s a new idea in the wind for the controversial Brush Creek property.

Friends of Brush Creek (FOBC), a local non-profit made up of neighbors who live near Brush Creek Road, say they have a better plan than the one submitted by Gatesco, Inc., now entering the county’s land use change process.

Attorney David Leinsdorf appeared before the Board of County Commissioners this past Tuesday as an unscheduled citizen, representing FOBC. He explained the group’s purpose is not to derail Gatesco’s progress through the process at this point.

“We just think it’s important for the participants to know that there is an alternative plan if the Gatesco plan doesn’t go through. Our proposal would include about 50 or 60 deed-restricted units, plus 25 small lots, for houses. The project would be 100 percent deed-restricted and no taxpayer funding.” Leinsdorf said the alternate design would also include more room for parks and other amenities.

“Last night at the [Crested Butte] council meeting, Dara [MacDonald, town manager] suggested the sale might happen before the entitlements are approved,” Leinsdorf said. “I want to suggest, that increases the risk and reduced the flexibility for the county… A person who is a property owner has more rights. If you still own the property, you can go to plan B more easily than if you’re in a battle to repurchase it. I just wanted to let you know, that alternative is in the works.”

“Why was that not submitted when the RFP [Request For Proposals] was put out?” asked county manager Matthew Birnie. “We put that out to the world.”

Leinsdorf didn’t have an immediate response, but in a letter written to Birnie and copied to the CB News shortly after the meeting, Leinsdorf explained, “The man spearheading the alternative plan, a senior real estate professional involved in nearly 40,000 residential units over the course of his 30-year career, left the development business years ago because, in his words, it’s ‘too dirty.’ He now focuses on real estate investments and financing. So, the reason he did not submit a proposal for the RFP is simple: He is no longer involved in raw ground real estate development. Ten days ago, he told me that, if he had his old team, he could put a development proposal together in a few days. Since his team is no longer intact, it will take a few weeks.”