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A new home for Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority?

Karl Herchenroeder
The Aspen Times

The Aspen-Pitkin County Hosuing Authority is nearing an agreement for a new space in town, according to officials.

“We have looked at several properties carefully,” Housing Authority Executive Director Tom McCabe said in an email. “Among them one would fulfill our needs without many move-related headaches. If it all works out, APCHA will remain in town and will be about as accessible as it is now and all our current in-town staff will move to the new location.”

McCabe did not offer the exact location of the desired space, and he said if an agreement is reached, it will hinge on Aspen City Council approval. The soonest the board could review the potential request is April 28. There are still several details that city-hired lawyers need to resolve, so the deal is not final, he added.



The future of the Housing Authority’s offices will be part of a Municipal Facilities Master Plan discussion Tuesday, during a City Council work session. Officials are forming the plan to weigh the current uses and future needs of 24 city departments and 14 city-occupied sites. A $212,206 study was approved for the project in January. Since then, the Wheeler Opera House, the Aspen Ice Garden, Aspen Electric on Puppy Smith Street, the Streets Department and the Recycle Lot have requested to be considered in the plan, resulting in $80,000 for additional services. The Wheeler is contributing $10,250.

The comprehensive plane will provide 10- and 20-year outlooks for the 24 departments and 14 spaces. The Aspen Police Department, which accounts for $100,000 of the study, is expected to vacate its Main Street space within five years. On April 9 and 10, the Police Department will receive an update on the progress of plans.




herk@aspentimes.com