Housing costs have not been reasonable for years, but the current situation is untenable
Old motels that served as a de facto reserve for affordable housing used have been purchased by investors, and those that remain now rent for $850 to $900
per room per month. The impact of housing shortages on businesses is seen in
reduced operating hours. The only employees who can live in the area are those who found a place awhile back. Bayfield’s purchase of land entitled for town homes is encouraging, and will be a much-needed housing solution. The region should also consider facilitating factory-built housing solutions—and make sure those units are allowed in planned unit developments (by HOA covenants). Difficulty finding builders and building costs are much more of a barrier than getting entitlements or developments approved. Durango’s Fair Share Housing ordinance has not produced units and needs to be revised; the fee-in-lieu is much too low to incentivize unit creation. Durango has been a regional in STR regulation; their approach is a model for other towns. To facilitate housing development, the county needs to address infrastructure challenges very aggressively. Ignacio is on the Southern Ute water and wastewater system and the costs are very high. Real estate transfer taxes should be allowed to help generate revenue to support affordable housing development. Investors and wealthy owners are contributing to the problem and should be part of the solution: “TABOR is killing us.”