On Friday, July 21, the White River National Forest signed a decision to authorize a 50-year lease of the 11-acre Dillon Work Center Administrative Site to Summit County for the development of affordable workforce housing.  

Under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, the U.S. Forest Service has the authority to enter long-term lease arrangements for qualifying administrative sites in exchange for cash or non-cash consideration.

Following completion of an appraisal, the lease is anticipated to be signed in September. Work on the site is expected to begin in 2024. 

The 11-acre Dillon Work Center property is located along County Road 51 outside of the White River National Forest’s administrative boundary.  Summit County had submitted a development proposal for the site in coordination with the town of Dillon.

The proposal includes building up to 177 affordable long-term rental units of mixed configuration along with a neighborhood community center, residential parking, public transit connections and upgraded infrastructure and utilities.

Housing for permanent and seasonal Forest Service employees, as well as redevelopment of existing administrative facilities that support district and wildland fire operations, are included in the proposal as an in-kind consideration for the lease.

More information about the decision authorizing the lease is available at FS.USDA.gov.