The Telluride Town Council recently approved a new affordable housing project, but it’s only a drop in the bucket when it comes to addressing the area’s affordable housing shortage.
Telluride Mayor Stu Fraser says the town has about 300 affordable housing units. He estimates 65 percent of those are rentals.
"It’s very difficult to find rentals within the community," Fraser says. "And, we try to make sure that the folks who are working here have the ability to live within the town of Telluride."
Right now the town’s apartment complex is full. And staff say people might have to wait up to six months for an opening.
Fraser says Telluride is not the only community with this problem.
"There is no space and we have demand for more," he says. "And the same thing holds true for Mountain Village and [San Miguel] county."
He says Telluride is working to address its housing shortage.
The town council recently approved a plan to build up to nine affordable housing units.
"We have not made a final decision on whether they will be owner-occupied or rental," Fraser says. "I believe that the council is leaning very strongly towards doing owner-occupied."
Meaning the town would sale the units to people with incomes that qualify for affordable housing.
Town officials estimate construction on the project could start next summer.