The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
A few glitches to start
[ By Mark Reaman ]
The 36-unit GardenWalk affordable housing project located in Gunnison has started leasing their apartments to local workers. While there have been some hiccups in the initial process, renters have started to move in.
The project is a LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credits) building similar to Anthracite Place in Crested Butte. But while Anthracite Place has two AMI (Area Median Income) levels to consider for potential renters, GardenWalk has four along with two bedroom types (one bedroom or two bedroom). The deed restriction for the Gunnison project limits renters to making between 30 and 60 percent of AMI. Being a LIHTC project subsidized construction costs and helped make the project affordable to lower income workers.
Some initial renters who wished to remain anonymous said they felt like they were given the runaround. “It seems they told me and others one rent amount and then that would change; they would tell us one deposit amount and that would change,” said one person. “Move-in dates were moved several times and they had trouble verifying my income despite a ton of paperwork.”
Gunnison City manager Russ Forrest said there were some glitches with the first renters but he said, “The issues have been worked out to the best of my knowledge.”
Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority executive director Jennifer Kermode said she had heard of the initial confusion some people experienced but is excited that a new affordable opportunity is opening.
“GardenWalk has had some challenges with the marketing/communication piece to the public and not setting clear expectations of applicants on how the lease-up process works,” she explained. “Unlike Anthracite Place, GardenWalk has four different AMI levels and two bedroom types, which complicates the process (we only have two AMIs at APA). Once someone brings in a fully completed application package and their income is calculated, that’s when they know which unit at which AMI level someone qualifies for. As is the case with almost all subsidized housing, there are fewer units at the lowest AMI (30 percent) and more units at the max (60 percent) AMI. So, once the units at 30 percent AMI are leased up, someone may get offered a 60 percent unit even if their income is at or below 30 percent. Again, without clear communication, some folks felt it was a bait-and-switch.”
GardenWalk is owned and managed by a company out of Oklahoma and Kermode said the developers have been trying to find a local property manager, “but finding someone here who is trainable for LIHTC which is very complicated is a challenge,” she said.
The Crested Butte News reached out to Belmont Management by email but did not hear back.
A single person qualifying for the 30-percent AMI level must make less than $14,950. At the 60-percent level, the upper limit annual income is currently $31,680.
“Despite the initial confusion at GardenWalk, the complex is beautiful, affordable and provides good quality living here in Gunnison,” emphasized Kermode.
An official ribbon cutting is being planned for May.
