U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper listened to Steamboat Springs residents Wednesday on the site of the future Brown Ranch housing development.

 

The senator heard from many on the steering committee for Brown Ranch as well as community members and leaders about the 536-acre property that was donated to be used for affordable housing. 2300 units will be built there, for a variety of price points.

Senator Hickenlooper was impressed with the community engagement and collaboration in coming up with the plan for Brown Ranch as far as designing the site with housing for the entire spectrum of the work force in the Steamboat Springs and Routt County community.

Jay Peasley with Yampa Valley Housing Authority says the next phase is to design the site for Brown Ranch and then get started on building homes as soon as possible. Peasley says there is a 1,400 unit deficit of housing properties in the community right now and Brown Ranch will add 2,300 units.

Representatives from UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center, Colorado Mountain College, and the county all said their biggest struggle is with work force housing. The hospital loses applicants because they can’t afford to live in Steamboat.

Senator Hickenlooper continues his visit to Northwest Colorado with a stop in Craig on Thursday. He’s meeting with local leaders to discuss how the region can diversify its economy and keep innovating.