City Council voted 4-3 Wednesday to approve a $749,000 purchase of a property located at 756 Chipeta Avenue to serve as transitional housing for city employees new to the area.
But it’s not a done deal yet because the city’s offer is not the top offer on the property. So, according to city officials, it’s unclear if the purchase will go through at this point.
Council members Cody Kennedy, Dennis Simpson and Scott Beilfuss voted against the purchase.
The seven bedroom, four bathroom property is divided into three separate units. It is described in the listing as a “Turn of the Century Historic Downtown Mansion ready for the next chapter of a long storied book.” It is listed for $799,900.
City Manager Greg Caton said the house will help the city of Grand Junction be more competitive in the labor market by making it easier for new employees to find housing.
“It’s extremely challenging to transition into a community when you’re coming from the outside,” Caton said.
The item had been on City Council’s consent agenda Wednesday but was pulled for discussion by Council Member Kennedy.
Kennedy said in his opinion the property in question lacks versatility and would cost the city a lot in upkeep.
He also said the investment might make sense for a single investor, but not the city.
“I see this as a bit out of our lane,” Kennedy said.
Council Member Abe Herman said council had already approved a purchase for transitional housing through its 2024 budget process. A $750,000 line item for such a purchase was included in the city’s 2024 budget.
Herman also said he disagreed with Kennedy’s comment about the property lacking versatility.
Firefighter and union representative Rick Swales said he has had difficulty moving his family to Grand Junction from Georgia.
Swales said he lived with a friend when he first moved to Grand Junction in 2020, and also lived in a camper behind a friend’s house for several months.
Having a transitional housing option would help ease the stress of moving, Swales said.
A proposed 192-unit affordable housing development took a step forward Wednesday with Grand …
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Also Wednesday, City Council voted unanimously to approve a letter of intent to purchase the salt flats property at 450 28 Road to be developed into affordable housing.
The 21.45-acre parcel will be purchased for $3.2 million, with $2.2 million coming from a grant and $1 million coming from the city.
Community Development Director Tamra Allen said the goal is to develop the site into between 343 and 500 affordable and attainable units.
Allen said she anticipates completing the purchase later this year, no later than early fall.
City Attorney John Shaver said the land still needs to be subdivided before the city can buy it.
The other part of the parcel that needs to be subdivided will be home to Enstrom Candies’ new facility.
“I can’t think of a better partner than the city of Grand Junction to help build out this property and put it to good use in that regard for affordable and attainable housing,” Enstrom Candies representative Doug Simons said.
