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ENLARGE
BRECKENRIDGE — Donna Rosener lived in Summit County for 32 years and has never been able to purchase a home on her own.
“I could never qualify for anything on my own,” Rosener said. “I work for restaurants here in Breck and I wanted to be in Breck, but I thought Breck was out of my realm.”
That is, until plans began for the deed-restricted Valley Brook Neighborhood. Rosener, who had tried and failed to get into the Wellington Neighborhood and other homes in Frisco, finally landed a contract that worked for her budget.
“I didn't know if I could qualify, but I could,” she said. “This is something I could do. It's a beautiful home.”
Rosener moved into the first phase of Valley Brook houses in February. As months passed, the units filled in around her, and today all but seven units in the neighborhood are spoken for.
Friday morning, housing officials, Breckenridge town council members, real estate professionals and residents gathered for a barbecue, open house and block party to celebrate the neighborhood coming together and the start of construction on phase 3 — the last eight homes. Two are already under contract.
For the Town of Breckenridge, the rocky road toward the completion of its newest deed-restricted workforce-housing neighborhood began in 2008. The project, which includes two- and three-bedroom units priced for buyers at 80 and 105 percent of area median income, hit speed bumps when the recession tanked the local housing market and created controversy over the stated need for deed-restricted housing when sellers and real estate brokers were struggling to move market-rate inventory. The original developer, Mercy Housing, also went by the boards.
But Breckenridge and housing officials stuck by the project, saying the changes in the economy made building more affordable and the houses met an important need in the community.
“We're … putting keys in the hands of people who are the backbone of our community,” Breckenridge Councilwoman Jennifer McAtamney said at the neighborhood ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this year.
And as the neighborhood nears completion, its new residents are glad the town stayed behind the project.
“It made it so I have this beautiful new home that I could never have afforded by myself,” Rosener said.
The neighborhood, located near Upper Blue Elementary school on Airport Road, provides residents access to nearby bike trails and downtown. The units earned Home Energy Rating System scores in the 40-50 range, meaning they are 50-60 percent more energy efficient than a house built to development code.
“I could never qualify for anything on my own,” Rosener said. “I work for restaurants here in Breck and I wanted to be in Breck, but I thought Breck was out of my realm.”
That is, until plans began for the deed-restricted Valley Brook Neighborhood. Rosener, who had tried and failed to get into the Wellington Neighborhood and other homes in Frisco, finally landed a contract that worked for her budget.
“I didn't know if I could qualify, but I could,” she said. “This is something I could do. It's a beautiful home.”
Rosener moved into the first phase of Valley Brook houses in February. As months passed, the units filled in around her, and today all but seven units in the neighborhood are spoken for.
Friday morning, housing officials, Breckenridge town council members, real estate professionals and residents gathered for a barbecue, open house and block party to celebrate the neighborhood coming together and the start of construction on phase 3 — the last eight homes. Two are already under contract.
For the Town of Breckenridge, the rocky road toward the completion of its newest deed-restricted workforce-housing neighborhood began in 2008. The project, which includes two- and three-bedroom units priced for buyers at 80 and 105 percent of area median income, hit speed bumps when the recession tanked the local housing market and created controversy over the stated need for deed-restricted housing when sellers and real estate brokers were struggling to move market-rate inventory. The original developer, Mercy Housing, also went by the boards.
But Breckenridge and housing officials stuck by the project, saying the changes in the economy made building more affordable and the houses met an important need in the community.
“We're … putting keys in the hands of people who are the backbone of our community,” Breckenridge Councilwoman Jennifer McAtamney said at the neighborhood ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this year.
And as the neighborhood nears completion, its new residents are glad the town stayed behind the project.
“It made it so I have this beautiful new home that I could never have afforded by myself,” Rosener said.
The neighborhood, located near Upper Blue Elementary school on Airport Road, provides residents access to nearby bike trails and downtown. The units earned Home Energy Rating System scores in the 40-50 range, meaning they are 50-60 percent more energy efficient than a house built to development code.
