If you’ve driven down West Third Street from downtown or CO 291 and wondered what was happening with the stacked building cubes on the corner of U.S. 291, here’s a progress update.
Who is building these structures and what is the current status?
Six affordable housing units are due to be finished in September 2023 by Chaffee Housing Trust at Third and M Street in Salida. Merrell Bergin photo
The four buildings on the west side of the street are a project of the Chaffee Housing Trust (CHT) and all six units are designated to meet the needs of locals who satisfy specific criteria for affordable housing.
The CHT project has been in the works since 2019 and Ark Valley Voice has covered it since the beginning.
The six units of affordable housing of varying sizes, types, and price ranges (with some for sale and others for rent) were factory pre-built by IndieDwell in Pueblo, Colorado, and placed on site last October.
The structures with wiring, plumbing, interior walls, and finishes were, at that point, only awaiting exterior work and roofing and planned to be ready by June 2023. But things are a bit behind.
Unforeseen issues outside of CHT control trigger a hiatus
Read McCulloch, Executive Director of Chaffee Housing Trust (right) confers with site superintendent at Third and M Street housing project in Salida. Merrell Bergin photo
Ark Valley Voice spoke with Read McCulloch, Executive Director of the CHT at the project site on July 12. Two factors were named as causes for the project slowdown. “A financial challenge at the factory [producing our units] was created when a major customer failed to pay, causing cash flow issues, so they had to slow things down,” McCulloch said.
“That issue has been resolved, a finish crew of seven is working at the Salida site as of this week and other subcontractors are scheduled in by the site superintendent as needed,” he added.
A second issue related to a piece of machinery needed to build the cabinetry. Parts and supply chain issues prevented including the cabinets in the shipped units but now they are back on schedule.
Major tasks are now being worked on
- Roof trusses on site and ready to install with the membrane roof
- Window trimming is underway and needed before the siding
- Siding is being cut and fitted. It is a mix of lap and board and batten siding.
- On-site welding and erecting of metal staircases are in progress for the balconies in Units B and C
- Building D (east end, the largest) is the current top priority with a family ready to move in.
- Cabinetry is almost completed and will then be brought to the site.
- Appliances are at the factory and need to be brought in and hooked up.
Roof trusses await installation at Chaffee Housing Trust at Third and M Street, Salida. Merrell Bergin photo
Project completion is now planned for September, 2023
According to McCulloch, with Certificates of Occupancy (CO’s) yet to be granted, he hopes for occupancy in October.
“All four of the for-sale units are sold and waiting completion and their CO, appraisals, and closing,” said McCulloch. “CHT’s goal is to get people moved into these units first then lease the two rental units.”
Sidewalks and a small retaining wall on West Third will follow and McCulloch notes that all the ground floor units are ADA-accessible.
Preparing lap siding for Chaffee Housing Trust homes at Third and M Street, Salida. Merrell Bergin photo
Future CHT projects
While the Third and M Street homes are the main focus for CHT, it is also working on other projects:
- Two Rivers, Phase II
- West End (aka Upchurch annexation)
- Has foundation work underway for the six Inclusionary Housing (IH) units as part of the large project on CR 140.
- Five units will be at 80% Area Median Income (AMI) and one at 100% AMI
Stay with Ark Valley Voice for continued coverage of this walkable, affordable, in-town project as it moves toward completion.
Featured image: From right: Buildings A, B, C, and D at Chaffee Housing Trust project, early morning on July 6, 2023. Merrell Bergin photo.
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