“I want everybody to ban the words affordable housing. It’s not affordable housing,” said Eric Blackhurst, president of the Estes Park Housing Authority board, at their monthly meeting on March 19.
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“We deal with low-income housing, we deal with workforce housing, and we deal with attainable housing.” Blackhurst said that since the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has specific requirements about what the term affordable housing means, that term needs to be “banned from the conversation.”
Blackhurst was expressing frustration about recent public meetings where the term has been used by the Town of Estes Park Board of Trustees, causing confusion because it implies HUD rules would apply, he said.
Also, the Prospector Apartments, since they are a private development, is “not our concern,” Blackhurst added.
The development on Colorado State Highway 7 was built as attainable workforce rental housing under rules set by the Estes Park Development Code to receive a density and height bonus.
This development is not managed by EPHA and despite local misconceptions, was never intended to be a low-income housing option.
The only involvement that EPHA has with Prospector Apartments is vetting the workforce housing requirement for tenants, meaning that occupants must work within the Estes Park School District R3 boundaries on a full-time basis, and for the attainable units, whether the income limit of no more than 150% area median income is met.
New board member nominated
EPHA Executive Director Scott Moulton and Town of Estes Park Trustees Frank Lancaster and Bill Brown interviewed two candidates for a position on the EPHA’s board of directors. The recommendation to appoint Stacy Ciolli, who has lived in a rental unit managed by the authority for eight years, will be heard at the next Town of Estes Park board meeting on March 25.
EPHA manages 335 units, reported Moulton, and according to state statute, once the authority manages more than 300 units, it must have someone who has benefited from their services to sit on its board. If confirmed, Ciolli will serve a term that concludes at the end of April 2027.
Workforce rental assistance expended for 2025
The current budget for the workforce rental assistance program has been spent, reported Jeff Mabry, EPHA’s housing program manager.
This program is available to those who pay more than 35% of their income for rent. To date 30 households receieve the benefit of $400 per month in rental assistance, Mabry reported. If more funds become available, the program will be able to accept more applicants.
Mabry is also in charge of verifying workforce housing eligibility for several housing projects around town. To increase efficiencies and streamline operations, the EPHA has implemented some new online systems to collect information for people who qualify for workforce housing. In May, EPHA will implement new property management software that will make maintenance calls more efficient, too.
Fish Hatchery neighborhood meeting
Pete Levine, EPHA’s real estate development director, reported a neighborhood meeting will be held at the United Methodist Church at 5 p.m. on March 26.
There, residents can learn about the updated plans to convert Town of Estes Park employee housing into workforce housing on town-owned property off Fish Hatchery Road. Estimates for construction on this project are expected to be presented at the May or June EPHA meeting.
On Feb. 19, EPHA hosted a Fish Hatchery neighborhood fire evacuation meeting, which included information on Fall River corridor evacuation plans and wildland-urban interface concerns for fire mitigation. Representatives from RMNP, the Estes Park Fire Protection District, and the Estes Park Police Department were on hand to answer questions and make recommendations.
Fall River Village to start leasing lower-level units
Fall River Village upper units are completely leased, reported housing manager Jessica Moffett, and lower-level units may become available as soon as April 1. Moulton added that there may be short-term leases available for seasonal workers among the lower units at this property.
Mailbox installations for each unit of this previous vacation rental property are expected to be completed by next week, read Moffett’s report.
Executive session to discuss property purchasing and negotiations
After several other reports, including a copy of the 2025 draft annual housing supply plan, the EPHA March 19 meeting was adjourned to go into executive session. In this session, the purchase of several properties, including 381 S. St. Vrain Ave. and Castle Ridge, were discussed, along with developing strategies for negotiation.
The next EPHA public meeting is scheduled for April 9, 8:30 a.m., at the George Hix meeting room in the US Bank building, 363 E. Elkhorn Avenue.