Colorado district is building 50-unit housing development for teachers and staff

The Roaring Fork (Colo.) school district is preparing to break ground on a 50-unit housing project in Carbondale for teachers and other district staff.

The Glenwood Springs Post Independent reports that the development will have a range of studio to three-bedroom units. The project will consist of three buildings, shared outdoor spaces, on-site parking and electronic vehicle charging stations.

Those units will add to the existing 66 units available for teachers and school staff throughout the area.

Officials say that having housing available for employees helps the district attract and retain workers.

“It’s really critical for us to be able to recruit and retain high-quality staff to come teach in this valley,” Roaring Fork Schools Chief Operating Officer Ben Bohmfalk said. “We know a highly qualified teacher should be standing at the front of every classroom, and we think this is a great step in making sure that’s the case.”

The $29 million project cost has been accounted for in the 2023-24 school district budget, without necessitating any tax increases.

A combination of rental revenues from the district’s existing 66 units, district funds, and the district’s housing fund, land dedication fees, and general fund reserves all contribute to the financing of the project.