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Lake Dillon Fire Protection District Chief Dave Parmley, front, and public information officer Steve Lipsher walk out of the six-unit apartment building in Dillon Valley that's owned by the district. The district is trying to sell the building because it's been under-used by firefighters.
SUMMIT COUNTY — The Lake Dillon Fire Protection District is hoping an apartment complex built for trainee firefighters can be turned into affordable workforce housing for the wider community.
“Last year, we had a hard time getting full use of the building,” said fire chief Dave Parmley, describing the six-unit structure at 725 Straight Creek Drive, in Dillon Valley.
Parmley said the department's employee dynamics have changed since the structure was built in 2002. At the time, the department had a “robust” residential firefighter program. But since the department can't fill the apartments with firefighters any longer, the board of the fire protection has decided to try and sell the building for $1.25 million.
Parmley said the board has approached the Summit Combined Housing Authority to see if there is any interest in adding the building to the existing stock of affordable workforce units.
“We sat down with the housing authority in April or May. They haven't ruled it out completely,” Parmley said.
The housing authority and county officials did not return calls asking for comment Monday.
The apartment building could also be a good investment for a private employer, said local real-estate broker Dan Burnett, mentioning Home Depot and the Summit Medical Center as entities that could have a need for employee housing.
All six units have two bedrooms and a washer and dryer. Most of them are wheelchair accessible, according to Burnett.
The original development permit for the building including deed restrictions, requiring the occupants to work in Summit County at least 30 hours per week. The units don't have other restrictions, such as appreciation caps, associated with other affordable- housing projects.
Burnett said the units have been renting for about $1,000 per month.
“The Lake Dillon Fire Protection District would have no problem holding on to the units if they were still meeting their mission,” Parmley said. The chief said the department didn't make a mistake by building the apartments in the first place. At the time, it was the right thing to do, given the circumstances.
In effect, the building is owned by the taxpayers of the fire protection district. Parmley said proceeds from the sale will be used to pay down debt, including the expansion of the Dillon fire station.
“The board said, if it's under-utilized, we should get it into the right hands,
so that it can help with the overall affordable-housing situation,” Parmley said.
The building has been on the market since last spring. Burnett said he's showed the property frequently but hasn't found a a buyer yet.
“Last year, we had a hard time getting full use of the building,” said fire chief Dave Parmley, describing the six-unit structure at 725 Straight Creek Drive, in Dillon Valley.
Parmley said the department's employee dynamics have changed since the structure was built in 2002. At the time, the department had a “robust” residential firefighter program. But since the department can't fill the apartments with firefighters any longer, the board of the fire protection has decided to try and sell the building for $1.25 million.
Parmley said the board has approached the Summit Combined Housing Authority to see if there is any interest in adding the building to the existing stock of affordable workforce units.
“We sat down with the housing authority in April or May. They haven't ruled it out completely,” Parmley said.
The housing authority and county officials did not return calls asking for comment Monday.
The apartment building could also be a good investment for a private employer, said local real-estate broker Dan Burnett, mentioning Home Depot and the Summit Medical Center as entities that could have a need for employee housing.
All six units have two bedrooms and a washer and dryer. Most of them are wheelchair accessible, according to Burnett.
The original development permit for the building including deed restrictions, requiring the occupants to work in Summit County at least 30 hours per week. The units don't have other restrictions, such as appreciation caps, associated with other affordable- housing projects.
Burnett said the units have been renting for about $1,000 per month.
“The Lake Dillon Fire Protection District would have no problem holding on to the units if they were still meeting their mission,” Parmley said. The chief said the department didn't make a mistake by building the apartments in the first place. At the time, it was the right thing to do, given the circumstances.
In effect, the building is owned by the taxpayers of the fire protection district. Parmley said proceeds from the sale will be used to pay down debt, including the expansion of the Dillon fire station.
“The board said, if it's under-utilized, we should get it into the right hands,
so that it can help with the overall affordable-housing situation,” Parmley said.
The building has been on the market since last spring. Burnett said he's showed the property frequently but hasn't found a a buyer yet.
