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A Willits developer wants to go above and beyond with affordable housing units. But there's a catch.

Developer Michael Lipkin wants to build more than twice the affordable housing units required by Basalt's land-use code. Council's issue? That they'd all be rentals.
Basalt Meeting Agenda Packet
Developer Michael Lipkin wants to build more than twice the affordable housing units required by Basalt's land-use code. Council's issue? That they'd all be rentals.

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.

Morgan is KDNK's News Director. He comes to KDNK with public radio passion and experience. He was a news host, reporter, and operations/programming director at KAJX-Aspen, and has extensive experience working in municipal government.