In a 5-1 vote, Carbondale’s Board of Trustees pledged $1 million to a regional effort to purchase two trailer parks, representing 139 units, under a community-ownership model for a total cost of $43 million.
As framed by April Long, executive director of the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition, the purchase would be akin to securing affordable housing at a rate of $145,000 per unit. Moreover, “It’s not just units, these are families, so it’s 139 families we’re looking to hold here in their home that they’ve been in for decades,” she said.
Long explained that local governments had already accrued $10.1 million in pledges — $3 million from Pitkin County, $3 million from the City of Aspen, $2.5 million from Eagle County, $1 million from Snowmass Village, $500,000 from Basalt and $100,000 from Glenwood Springs. Additionally, Atlantic Aviation, the company that operates the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is committing $1 million and Aspen One $500,000. The Coalition is scheduled to speak with Garfield County on July 8.
The mobile home park residents are working with Thistle ROC, a lending nonprofit, to match a competitive offer on the two parks, which were listed for sale together. Under Colorado law, the residents were given 120 days to counter an offer made by an anonymous buyer. The property owner is not obligated to sell to residents, but must negotiate in good faith. According to Long, the group will also pursue state funding, but the Proposition 123 grant cycle does not coincide with the residents’ Aug. 7 deadline.
Carbondale trustees demonstrated enthusiastic support for the cause, beginning with Christina Montemayor proposing $1 million be appropriated from a dedicated housing fund currently sitting around $1.6 million. She also encouraged annexation of the Mountain Valley Mobile Home Park, which is just outside Carbondale limits.
Chris Hassig concurred, and also issued a public challenge to Basalt Town Council to increase their contribution considering the proximity of the Aspen-Basalt Mobile Home Park to their town limits and that potential for annexation. He invoked the history of Pan and Fork, a mobile home park that was eventually redeveloped into Basalt River Park, displacing 38 families.
Erica Sparhawk acknowledged Carbondale’s parallel history, allowing the Bonanza Trailer Park downtown to be sold for redevelopment in 2002. Ironically, the majority of that land has since remained a dirt lot which the Town now owns and is struggling to finance a 65-unit affordable housing project on for $38 million.
Given a deed-restriction which prevents redevelopment of the trailer park near Carbondale — in addition to other financial commitments and budgetary pressures — Mayor Ben Bohmfalk could not agree with pledging $1 million. “That doesn’t mean I don’t support this,” he said. “I’m comfortable at the $500,000 to $600,000 level. I’m not comfortable at the $1 million, with a $15 million general fund and a housing fund that’s going to be really depleted after this, but I respect the decision.”
Dozens of residents of the trailer parks in attendance thanked the trustees for their pledge.
In other news
A light consent agenda was quickly approved including $7,250 toward skate park maintenance.
Doc Philip told the trustees during public comments, “We’re going to secede from the Union and become our own nation state.” He called it “Carbonationdale.”
Approval was granted for Mayor Bohmfalk to send a letter to Rep. Jeff Hurd and Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper stating Carbondale’s opposition to the selling off of public lands.
Trustees gave heartfelt praise to outgoing town manager Lauren Gister. Mayor Bohmfalk highlighted Gister’s accomplishments — from taking Carbondale through the end of COVID to helping formulate a short-term rentals solution, overseeing the new pool project, managing staff turnover and responding to the sudden arrival of many unhoused migrants. He called her career “a life of service.”
“I just want to say a huge thank-you to all of you for allowing me the honor of working in such an amazing place with the best people,” she responded. “This is, as we all know, a very special place, and there’s good work to be done.”
Trustees elected to align with Garfield County’s stage one fire restrictions.
Gister announced that sales tax revenues are showing a 3.7% increase over last year at this time, more than double the budgeted 1.5% increase. “Many municipalities and counties are down for the year and we are not,” she said. “So that’s good news.”
In other good news, Trustees approved Mountain Fair permits, including the addition of a beer garden in the new oasis space on Main Street, extending the festival downtown with additional music, activities and more.
Public Works Director Kevin Schorzman was appointed interim town manager until Ryan Hyland assumed the town manager position on Aug. 4. Hyland was selected from a pool of over 40 qualified applicants and brings more than two decades of municipal government leadership experience to Carbondale, including 10 years as the Town Manager of Silverthorne. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the Carbondale organization and community,” Hyland stated in a press release. “I know that Carbondale is a town that truly shows up for one another, grounded in shared values, strong relationships and a deep sense of identity and place.”