Mountain towns need housing. The U.S. Forest Service has land. Guess what happens next
Mountain towns need housing. The U.S. Forest Service has land. Guess what happens next Colorado Public Radio
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USFS doesn’t have money, but it has land
The Forest Service doesn’t have the money to solve its housing problem, Fitzwilliams said. But it’s got something else that could help: land like this.
The agency is about to sign a lease to allow a developer to transform the hilltop property. The fire engine bay, the offices and the storage areas will all be rebuilt to modern standards. And just downslope will come the biggest change of all — an entire residential neighborhood of more than 150 units.
“Multi-story buildings with housing units of one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations mixed in with some green space and a community center and public transit and a rec path coming through,” said Anna Bengtson, land conveyance program manager for the national forest.
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
A handful of the residences — which may be apartments or condos — will be reserved for Forest Service staff, replacing the existing cabins. But the rest will operate as affordable housing, open for applications from middle-income workers like teachers and firefighters.
The project has millions of dollars of backing from the state and local governments, and it will be built by the private developer Servitas. Summit County will lease the land from the Forest Service for 50 years, but will provide housing for USFS staffers instead of paying rent to the agency.
“It really is an innovative project. It’s the first in the nation,” said Summit County Commissioner Tamara Pogue.
Servitas could break ground on the roughly $100 million project next spring or summer, with construction expected to take about two years.
This all started in D.C.
It’s taken a literal act of Congress to make the project happen — the 2018 Farm Bill, to be precise. Federal lawmakers included a provision that authorized the Forest Service to lease out a strictly limited selection of its land for housing and other purposes.
Five years later, Dillon is set to be the first place it happens.
“Frankly, it’s going to be beautiful, because the site is epic,” said Garrett Scharton, an executive with Servitas. “Any other developer would absolutely put $5 million condos on this site … Summit County and the Forest Service and Dillon have decided to give back to the local community for essentially locals-only housing.”
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
In some ways, the project is simpler than other developments. There’s no need for a zoning hearing where local opponents might slow the project, since the U.S. Forest Service controls the land. And the agency does have experience building its own housing.
But it’s the first time that USFS has allowed a public-facing community on its land — and, indeed, it’s rare for any federal agency besides the military to be so directly involved in a project like this.
“The federal government as a counterparty in any transaction can be intimidating,” Scharton said. But the project has gone smoothly, with USFS leaders seeming to put their full weight behind it, he said, adding: “And that’s because their goals are our goals and their goals are the county’s goals. Their goals are the town of Dillon’s goals.”
Could more USFS land be used for housing?
The project is drawing national attention, a sign of how many other rural and resort communities are desperate for land for housing.
“In fact, a few weeks ago we hosted a delegation of congressional staff from Missouri, Montana — I mean, all over the place,” Pogue said.
Despite the widespread interest, these kinds of developments won’t be turning Colorado campgrounds into condos, Fitzwilliams stressed. For example, in the White River National Forest, there are only a handful of appropriate sites, all of them concentrated in areas that are already developed for the agency’s administrative uses, Fitzwilliams said.
“It might be 40, 50 acres that we would consider something like this, and the forest is 2.4 million. So, obviously, a very small part of it,” he added.
Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
The law mostly allows the Forest Service to lease out sites that were bought or used for administrative purposes like storage, housing and fire prevention. It also allows for the leasing of a limited number of “isolated, undeveloped parcels” under 40 acres
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.1 By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums | – The project aims to provide affordable housing to middle-income workers like teachers and firefighters. – The project has millions of dollars of backing from state and local governments. |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | – The project involves a partnership between the Forest Service, Summit County, and the private developer Servitas. |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The issue highlighted in the article is the lack of affordable housing for middle-income workers in rural and resort communities. The project discussed in the article aims to address this issue by providing affordable housing units. SDG 11 focuses on ensuring access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing for all by 2030, making it directly relevant to the issue discussed.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The article also highlights the partnership between the Forest Service, Summit County, and the private developer Servitas. This partnership is crucial for the successful implementation of the project. SDG 17 emphasizes the importance of partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals, making it connected to the issue discussed.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
The project discussed in the article aims to provide affordable housing for middle-income workers like teachers and firefighters. This aligns with Target 11.1, which focuses on ensuring access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing for all by 2030.
Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships
The partnership between the Forest Service, Summit County, and the private developer Servitas exemplifies the importance of effective public-private partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals. This aligns with Target 17.17, which emphasizes the promotion of such partnerships.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
– The project aims to provide affordable housing to middle-income workers like teachers and firefighters. The number of housing units built and occupied by middle-income workers can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards Target 11.1.
– The project has millions of dollars of backing from state and local governments. The amount of financial support provided by these entities can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards Target 11.1.
– The partnership between the Forest Service, Summit County, and the private developer Servitas can be seen as an indicator of progress towards Target 17.17.
Overall, while the article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, the information provided can be used to infer potential indicators to measure progress towards the identified targets.
4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.1 By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums | – The project aims to provide affordable housing to middle-income workers like teachers and firefighters. – The project has millions of dollars of backing from state and local governments. |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships | – The project involves a partnership between the Forest Service, Summit County, and the private developer Servitas. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: cpr.org
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