ASPEN —The purchase of a Basalt townhome to serve as worker housing won initial approval from Pitkin County commissioners Wednesday, but the move could spur debate over who will get to live in the unit.
With more than $10 million at hand that must be spent on worker housing, the $342,000 Elk Run unit is the county’s first acquisition, but the purchase raised questions.
Though the four commissioners present at the meeting voted unanimously to move forward, with a final vote scheduled for Oct. 24, Commissioner Rob Ittner voiced qualms about buying a townhome before nailing down various details, such as whether it will be used as a rental unit or sold to a qualified worker and at what price, and whether it will go to a county government employee or member of the general work force.
It’s possible that staff might have recommendations on some of those issues by Oct. 24, according to Jon Peacock, county manager.
“I think these questions are going to get easier. This is new for us,” he said.
Read more about the purchase.
