MAY 16 / JUNE 13, 2018
REDSTONE • REVIEW
PAGE 15
HOUSING Summit Housing Group hears from LVP homeowners and the community COMMENTARY: AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN LYONS
By Amy Reinholds Redstone Review
LYONS – When I walked to the Summit Housing Group question and answer session on May 8 about proposed affordable rental homes in Lyons Valley Park, Filing 8, Tract A, I passed another multifamily housing community in Lyons Reinholds Valley Park. On the sidewalk I was greeted by a resident meeting friends for “Taco Tuesday” in the community house shared kitchen and dining room. I saw parents and kids riding bikes while the sun was still shining on a warm spring early evening. The neighborhood looked like a suburban neighborhood that could be found many places in Colorado or the U.S., and I saw families and single people of all ages participating in their daily lives, enjoying time together. Sam Long, (whose father started Summit Housing) senior project manager for Summit Housing Group, spoke to about 50 people in the cafeteria of Lyons Middle and High School about a proposal for 43 rental homes affordable to people who make about 60 percent of the area median income (or possibly less, depending on funding sources and investments like Low Income Housing Tax Credits). “Our mission is to provide the most affordable units,” Long said. (In Boulder County, the area median income is $76,100 for a single person, $86,900 for a
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two-person household, $97,800 for a Summit Housing Group applied for and cent of the area median incomes or less. three-person household, and $108,600 for was selected by the Board of Trustees in The latest homes in Colorado are at 1205 a four-person household; 60 percent of the March. “We will take it through the Pace St. in Longmont. area median income is $45,660 for a single process, but if you tell the Board of “The Town of Lyons needs affordable person, $52,140 for a two-person house- Trustees that you want 29 units, and that is housing,” Long said. “Even if you make hold, $58,680 for a three-person house- what the town wants, we’ll build 29 units.” $70,000 a year, you can’t afford to buy a hold, and $65,160 for a 4-person houseThe geotechnical engineering assess- home in Lyons. I’m sure you all know hold.) Long said the preference policy for ment was expected to be completed in someone, maybe a parent or a child, who flood-displaced residents will can’t afford to live in Lyons.” apply. Emily Dusel, director of the Summit originally thought Lyons Emergency Assistance that the subdivision agreement Fund (LEAF), who also is a Lyons for Filing 8, Tract A that allowed Valley Park homeowner, spoke to multifamily housing, a density of a previous comment that tenants 7.7 units per acre would allow 43 would come from outside Lyons. homes. However, the company “To think that we don’t have a later determined that the multiproblem in our own community family density only applies to is completely incorrect,” she said, 3.82 acres, which allows only explaining that 15 percent of the about 27 to 29 homes by right on families who go to school in the parcel, Long said. So, to keep Lyons qualify for the free and with its original proposal for 43 reduced lunch program. She said homes, Summit will go through she sees clients at the LEAF food a rezoning process. The zoning pantry that are overburdened process starts with an applicawith rent costs. “We are feeding tion before the Lyons Planning 40 families because they have to and Community Development choose between feeding their Commission (PCDC). Public families and paying rent.” hearings are held with both the In the past two years, the Lyons PCDC and the Trustees. Board of Trustees has been trying “We have attorneys engaged to find land for affordable housing, at this time,” said Lyons Valley to not lose $4 million in federal Park homeowners association Community Development Block president Jim Crowder, who said Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBGhis attorneys did not agree that DR) funds set aside for Lyons multifamily housing was allowed housing. Other federal funds were in the subdivision agreement. lost in 2015 when a proposal for “We’re prepared to go to court.” using part of Bohn Park to build Yet other Lyons Valley Park subsidized, affordable Boulder homeowners were not against all County Housing Authority rentals affordable rentals. One man said, and some Habitat for Humanity “Some people want a lot of Progress continues at Lyons’ Habitat for Humanity build site for-sale affordable homes (a total affordable housing, and some of duplexes at 112 Park Street. Lyons residents Rolf of 50 to 70 units) was rejected in a people don’t want any, but a lot Hertenstein and Kelly Zimmerman, and Town of Lyons town vote: 498 Lyons voters supstaffer Lori LeGault team up to secure support for a porch on ported it, and 614 Lyons voters of us are in the middle.” one of the homes. “There are a lot of people opposed it. However, with $4 mil(here in Lyons Valley Park) who lion still reserved for Lyons in the want affordable housing for years that followed, the trustees everyone, but we just don’t want that two weeks, Long said, which will answer have pursued smaller options for housing. much,” another homeowner said. “Help questions about the expense of building. On Jan. 29, the trustees approved a resus do that smaller amount.” “There are a lot of issues with the site, olution authorizing a purchase and sale “That’s an option,” Long said. “I’m lis- which could be mitigated,” he said. agreement with current owner Keith Bell tening to you, but we’ve also made a comSummit, based in Missoula, MT, is a for an option to buy Tract A of Lyons mitment to the Town of Lyons,” he said, development company that specializes in Valley Park Filing 8. A request for proreferring to the request for proposals that low-income tax credit and mixed-use posals (RFP) for affordable housing develdevelopments. It develops opers interested in partnering with the and manages rental proper- town for that Lyons Valley Park Tract A ties in six states, including parcel went out in February. A selection Montana, Wyoming, Utah, committee (including representatives and Colorado, all which from the Lyons Valley Park homeowners include portions affordable association and the Lyons PCDC) to people who make 60 perContinue Housing on Page 16
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