Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley breaks ground on 16 Fading West homes in Eagle
Housing has gotten further out of reach for many living and working in Eagle County. In 2022-23, Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley received 170 applications for 24 homes. Hardworking locals struggle to find and maintain housing, oftentimes living in unsafe or overcrowded situations. Teachers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, bus drivers and grocery store workers deserve a safe, stable home.
Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley has tripled its building efforts this year to help locals living perilously close to crisis build stable roots. But it is heartbreaking to know there are only so many families we can help each year.
On June 22, Habitat Vail Valley broke ground on 16 homes, starting to build a new neighborhood with 16 new homeowners at Third Street in Eagle. This development is a standout because of the partnerships that made it possible, the future homeowners and the innovation.
This project comes with strong partnerships: Eagle County School District donated the land that is adjacent to Eagle Valley Middle School. Seventy-five percent of the new homeowners work in the school district.
The Town of Eagle worked with the nonprofit, helping it receive grants from the state for infrastructure work. The town also reduced its permitting costs. Eagle County/Eagle County Housing and Development Authority funded the gap between construction costs and affordability. Funding from the newly created Transformational Affordable Housing Grant program through the Colorado Department of Housing helped move the project forward.
Third Street is Habitat’s foray into modular building. Fading West constructed the homes in their factory, having them arrive in Eagle County at the end of October with a mid-November craning in.
On June 22 we celebrated the new Habitat homeowners who worked so hard to help build their homes and the homes of their neighbors. Third Street, like all of Habitat’s neighborhoods, shows how families working together create a strong community for everyone.
As housing prices continue to escalate and housing stock has dwindled, Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley is committed to advocating and building. Since 1995, Habitat Vail Valley has built 100 homes, housing 159 essential workers and 304 children. The nonprofit believes creating affordable homeownership opportunities is key to improving the cost of living for the local workforce: Everyone deserves a safe and stable home.
Site Plan and Location
Located adjacent to the Eagle County Middle School, this thoughtfully planned community will provide affordable homeownership to 16 individuals and their families, 75% of which work for the school district.
The school district donated the land, and worked with the county and the housing and development authority to secure additional grant funding and close the gap to affordable homeownership. The modular homes were built in nearby Buena Vista by Fading West.