Vail joins a countywide housing effort

VAIL — After overcoming some doubts, Vail council members agreed Tuesday to help fund the countywide worker-housing “store” that’s opening this summer.

Vail gave $15,000 to the Valley Home Source, described as a “one-stop shop” for seekers of affordable housing. The town joins Avon, Minturn, Red Cliff, Eagle, Gypsum and Eagle County as contributors to the nonprofit, which is set to open in Edwards this summer.

Margaret Rogers, a councilwoman, said Vail needs to cooperate with the rest of the valley to find more housing.

“If we achieve our goal for the town of Vail, we will house 30 percent of our work force, which means that seven out of 10 of these employees have to be housed downvalley,” Rogers said. “I think we can no longer think of ourselves as an isolated pod and not participate with the rest of the county in having housing be a priority.”
The Town Council said last year that affordable housing is its No. 1 priority.

Redevelopment in Vail is creating thousands of news jobs, but rising home prices are pushing workers farther away. Similar challenges are being felt in Summit County, where its housing authority is distancing itself from the term “affordable”. Recently, Dillon and Silverthorne announced plans for their first “attainable” housing projects, Frisco is finalizing plans for the aand Breckenridge has hundreds of units planned for upcoming years.

The Eagle County “store” should fund itself by 2010, said Don Cohen, executive director of the Eagle County Economic Council, which is organizing the effort.

Cohen said the Valley Home Source will allow buyers to find affordable homes, complete qualification processes and get information on down-payment-assistance programs.

However, the town’s staff recommended that Vail reject the request for money.
“Programs offered by (the Valley Home Source) are a duplication of services provided by the town’s housing division,” said a memo written by the staff.

Earlier Tuesday, Councilman Farrow Hitt seemed to agree with that.

“We can handle it in-house,” he said.

But, by evening, Hitt changed his mind. The council approved the funding by a 7-0 vote.

Who gave what

Contributions for this year to the Valley Home Source, a nonprofit that intends to help workers find affordable homes:
Avon: $16,500.
Minturn: $2,100.
Red Cliff: $700.
Eagle: $9,500.
Gypsum: $11,000.
Eagle County: $316,000 (includes staff time, office space and promotional efforts).
Vail: $15,000 (for six months only).
Private sector: $75,000.