Developer Michael Lipkin told Basalt Town Council Tuesday night that he wants to build 46 affordable rental units in the last phase of Willits. Basalt’s land use code only requires 21. The sticking point for council? That none of them would be for sale.
Mayor Bill Kane expressed frustration that out of nearly 300 affordable units built in Basalt, the vast majority are rentals. He wants people to have what he called a “little piece of the rock.” Lipkin countered that 23 of the units he’s proposing would be rented to households making between $250,000 and $300,000 annually. Lipkin calls that “the missing middle,” and says that even doctors can’t afford to move here now because of high home costs.
Council didn’t take any action, but pushed Lipkin to find a way to make some of the affordable units available for purchase. The Aspen Times reports that the Basalt Affordable Housing Advisory Committee is slated to look at Lipkin’s proposal on Thursday. That committee will then make a recommendation to council, which will look at the project again on June 14.
For KDNK News, I'm Morgan Neely.