Updated Needs Assessment shows progress in workforce housing

North Valley ready to strategize for future affordable housing

By Mark Reaman

An updated Needs Assessment Survey for affordable housing in the county indicates significant progress has been made in the north valley in terms of affordable home ownership opportunity, while the rental market could use some more attention. The biggest problem is with low-income renters looking for places to live.

A newly formed north valley housing subcommittee will meet Friday to go over the data and begin formulating a plan on how to proceed with developing new affordable housing units. A public meeting to discuss that eventual plan will likely be held in early January.

“Since 2016, there has been great progress on housing throughout the valley,” noted housing consultant Willa Williford of Williford LLC who compiled the updated numbers. “I see this as a result of all four jurisdictions really taking the issue to heart, as well as the private sector stepping up to meet the need. There is still plenty of work to do, and affordable rental housing should be the next focus for the north end of the valley.”

The updated needs assessment was paid for by the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, which is working in collaboration with the developer of a possible North Village subdivision that will include affordable housing, in conjunction with the town of Mt. Crested Butte.

“RMBL is working in partnership with the owners of the North Village site with the goal of expanding RMBL programs into Mt. Crested Butte. An important part of RMBL’s plans is employee housing,” explained RMBL executive director Ian Billick. “One of the main impediments for creating housing on North Village is the lack of infrastructure. If Mt. Crested Butte and community partners decide that North Village is an appropriate location to address larger needs, we will all benefit from doing this together. We also see funding housing planning as a way to demonstrate our commitment to the Alvarez family, and the local community.”

Williford, who has worked on affordable housing throughout the county, said “the challenges of housing our workforce will likely continue to grow and evolve as our local economy grows and diversifies. I believe the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority will be seeking to do some updated projections to look beyond 2020 in the coming year.”

Her latest numbers show that compared to 2016 when the last Needs Assessment was done, total ownership need in the north valley is now at about 11 homes, compared to 189 in 2016. She said that number is slightly misleading due to the fact there are 35 free market houses priced at more than $430,000 for sale in the area. So she clarified that the actual “workforce housing” need for ownership in the north valley is probably closer to 46 units. The updated ownership figure includes the planned Homestead development in Mt. Crested Butte that is slated to break ground this coming spring.

As for the north valley rental need, it has dropped to 111 units in 2019. That number is down from 171 calculated in 2016. Most of the need is at the lower income levels.

Crested Butte community development director Michael Yerman agreed that the lower income ownership and rental units are always the most needed but the new subcommittee group will discuss ideas on how to address that need in the future.

“The town has done a great job putting long-term locals into home ownership opportunities over the last couple of years,” Yerman said. “There is a great opportunity with the upcoming Colorado Department of Local Affairs [DOLA] funding that is being discussed to put a good dent in the low-income rental category. To do that up here and throughout the county will take the collaboration of all the government entities and that is why we are getting together to talk strategy.”

That meeting will take place Friday in Mt. Crested Butte.