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Workforce housing piece added to Dillon mixed-use development

An artist's rendering of the proposed Dillon Gateway project. The mixed-use development was approved by town council on Tuesday.
Elise Reuter / ereuter@summitdaily.com |

Dillon approved a planned unit development that has been in the works for years during a Tuesday vote. The Dillon Gateway project, a combination of condos, workforce housing and commercial space, is planned to go up at the town’s entrance near Buffalo Street and Lake Dillon Drive.

Ivan Ottoborgo, owner of Adriano’s Bistro, and Lake Dillon Conoco owner Daniel Eilts, paid the town for an option to purchase the land earlier this year. The current development will be constructed at the site of Adriano’s Bistro, but there is space for a future development at the site of the gas station and Lake Dillon Theatre.

“Dillon is a hard market,” Ottoborgo said. “We don’t have any new construction that’s gone on in last couple years.”



Of the 65 residential units, 17 would be long-term apartment rentals dedicated to individuals who work in the county at least 30 hours per week.

Another three units will be designated as affordable housing: a one-bedroom restricted to 80 percent of Summit County’s annual median income (AMI), and two apartments at 70-percent AMI, both of which are two-bedroom units.



“I’m trying to provide as much as I can for the town,” Ottoborgo said. “You’re asking for something that there’s already an overwhelming need for, and making it affordable as well.”

REFINING PLANS

The development was continued last month after a few citizens raised concerns about the lack of a defined workforce housing component. With the most recent changes, town council passed the project unanimously.

“I feel comfortable that the restricted units qualify as a compelling reason to go above our usual height allowances,” Dillon Mayor Kevin Burns said. “I think somebody said last time, this does tick a lot of the boxes.”

According to current plans, the mixed-used development will stand at 68 feet tall, about 10 feet higher than town code requirements. While some concerns were raised about the height previously, as the lot is steep—dropping almost 30 feet – the town was most concerned about the workforce housing component.

“It’s a big deal for the town of Dillon. It’s the biggest thing that’s happened for a long, long time,” Ottoborgo said.

An updated version of his restaurant, passed down through the generations, will be housed on the ground floor of the building. There will also be space for two to three additional businesses.

Now that the plan is approved, Ottoborgo is working to further develop plans and price points. At this point, he is working with Keller Williams Realty to take reservations for the property, but no presales, yet. Real estate agent Tom Harmon noted there was already interest in the building, but did not disclose the number of reservations.

“We’re ready to start on that process,” Harmon added.


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