The Grand Heritage Hotel Group, owned by local entrepreneur John Cullen, has offered the Fall River Village complex of condos for sale to the Estes Park Housing Authority (EPHA) to use for workforce housing. In a presentation at the June 25 Town Board meeting, Scott Moulton, EPHA’s executive director, presented an opportunity for the Town to purchase the property for $35 million.
Most of the 90 units would be rental homes of various sizes, with rents fixed at approximately 56 to 76% of the area median income (AMI), which is currently about $40/hour, said Moulton. Some of the units would be put up for sale as well.
Moulton received approval to investigate the opportunity further, which is time-sensitive, since Grand Heritage is seeking to sell the Stanley Hotel to an agency of the state and the sale of Fall River Village would facilitate that effort, said Trustee Bill Brown. “As a result, Grand Heritage will take a significant loss on this. It’s an opportunity like no other that we can get 90 affordable housing units online right away,” he added. “It’s hard to believe this will not be a success.” If the Town doesn’t move on this, there is a risk it will be sold to another party who would continue to use the complex for visitor lodging, Brown added.
More information will be provided after the investigation into this opportunity is complete.
Ordinance to require burying infrastructure lines, the installation of small cell towers, and public hearings on utility rate increases approved
When the Town of Estes Park undergrounds existing power lines, other utilities such as fiber lines were not required to be underground as well, leaving poles with lopped-off tops and a few other lines hanging on them. Ordinance 10-24, approved by the Town Board, now requires that other utilities will now need to underground lines when the Town does, or when given notice by the Town.
Verizon will be installing small cell towers in the Town’s right of ways, to increase coverage in the Estes Valley, “They will still be required to meet the Town’s design requirements, including height limitations,” said Special Council Brandon Dittman. The resolution passed unanimously.
Estes Park Power and Communications will present information about potential electric rate increases at public hearings during regular Town Board meetings on July 23 and Aug. 13. Utility Director Reuben Bergsten outlined the need for rate increases in all classes of electric consumption the Town provides, which will translate to an approximate 5% increase.
More information on these public hearings will be presented during the July 9 Town Board meeting.
Provisional Strategic Plan adopted, 2023 6E funding report received, and Visit Estes Park Visitor Intercept Report presented
The 2025 provisional strategic plan was passed unanimously by the board. This plan will set the direction that Town staff and board members will prioritize their efforts for next year. Budget items associated with this plan will be presented in a meeting this fall.
Childcare and Housing Manager Carlie Bangs presented a report on 6E funding received for childcare and how it has been spent to date.
2023 was the first full year when 6E revenue was received. Of the, $5,375,000 total projected income from the 6E Lodging Tax Extension $5,309,126 was received by the Town. Of these funds, 88%, or $4,750,000, was designated for workforce housing and 12%, or $625,000, was allocated for childcare needs.
Bangs presented the childcare funding applications to the Town Board for approval. “Our goal is to distribute the funds strategically and equitably,” said Bangs.
Beneficiaries of 6E funding dedicated to childcare were the YMCA of the Rockies, Mountaintop Childcare, Park Place Preschool, the Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County, Estes Valley Recreation and Park District, and the Estes Park School District.
Estes Park Housing Authority Executive Director Scott Moulton presented a report on the housing authority’s expenditures made possible by 6E funding. Land and property acquisition, predevelopment costs, rental assistance, deed restriction, and staffing and administrative expenditures were included in the 2023 budget.
Actual and committed expenses included approximately $2.2 million for 15 workforce housing units at Grand Estates, $1.78 million for 20 units at Beaver Brook, the acquisition of land at Marys Lake Road and Riverside Drive, for the future development of 22 to 34 housing units and 10 to12 housing units respectively, for just under $1 million collectively. The Housing Authority also provided an additional $75,000 in rental assistance.
Bangs also presented a childcare needs study, performed by Groundswell for Good, LLC. A summary of the findings showed there were 1,679 children in the Estes Valley as of the 2020 Census. Of that amount, an estimated 427 were under 5 years of age. Both parents of most of the children were in the workforce.
According to the Groundswell, birth rates have fallen by 30% since the last childcare needs study was completed in 2018 and, enrollment in the school district has declined. The study also reported that additional childcare is needed in several categories in the Estes Valley.
The tap on the childcare needs assessment study could cost as much as $89,841 when the final bill is received, according to Bangs.
Additional business
The rezoning of long-existing condominiums at the entry to the Elkhorn Lodge from commercial to multi-family residential was tabled until a later date.
Visit Estes Park CEO Kara Franker presented the organization’s 2023 annual report and provided requested information to the trustees about the process used when deciding to produce printed materials for general distribution. She assured board members that the issue will be revisited before 2025. Results from the organization’s visitor intercept study were provided in a written report.
Estes Valley Investment in Childhood Success (EVICS) board member Anatasia Reed presented the base funding report for EVICS.
Citizen Steve Nagl used the public comment opportunity of the meeting to express dismay that the “post office has taken over the Riverside parking lot” and requested the Town Board provide all assistance possible in making sure postal employees and postal equipment did not use the Riverside lot for longterm or overnight parking.
The next Town Board meeting will be held on July 9 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.