The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Young single people in the service industry primary applicants
by Mark Reaman
A line of people waited Friday morning, January 15, to be near the top of the list and pick up an application for a spot in the Anthracite Place affordable housing apartment complex that should be completed this summer.
There are 30 units in the new Crested Butte project. More than 30 applications have been distributed in Crested Butte, Gunnison and via the website. By early this week 21 people had returned completed forms.
“The process went very smoothly,” said Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority executive assistant Chris Peterson. “We had quite a few people waiting at 10 a.m. and they were very excited to be at the top of the waiting list when they returned their completed applications to us.”
Peterson said most of those returning the detailed applications did a good job completing the questions but “we did have to return a few applications because they were incomplete. Those whose applications were returned are encouraged to correct the issues with their application and resubmit to the GVRHA.”
There is no deadline to submit an application for a unit in Anthracite Place and there is no limit to the number of applications that will be accepted. There is a $30 application fee.
There are six two-bedroom units and 24 one-bedroom units in the building, which is located across the street from Clark’s Market in Crested Butte.
Peterson said those who have returned applications were mainly younger single people working in the service industry. However, a couple of small families, a few business owners and a few retired people also submitted completed applications.
“We will keep adding people to our waiting list even after we have enough approvals to fully occupy the building’s apartment units,” explained Peterson. “Any applicant’s circumstances can change over time. With that being said, there is a chance that some people approved in early spring will no longer be in the area or eligible by mid-summer. For this reason, the application process will remain open and names will be added to the waiting list for the foreseeable future.”
While there are no residency requirements to apply, there are income limits as well as proof needed that a renter can make the monthly payments that will range from $650 to $920 per month. The units are intended to be geared toward local employees who make below 50 or 60 percent of the area median income in Gunnison County.
In the next few weeks the GVRHA will begin conducting the background/rental history checks that are required for the property. “In approximately two months, we will contact the top 50 eligible applicants and request more documentation from them so that we can conduct the full review and verification process. We should have a good idea of who, specifically, will be moving in by June of 2016,” said Peterson.
Applications can be accepted only by GVRHA staff. GVRHA staff is present at the Crested Butte Town Hall Tuesdays and Thursday between 9:15 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Gunnison office is located at 202 E. Georgia and its hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Applications can also be mailed to the Gunnison office directly.
