Pitco ups price caps for North 40 resales
Pitkin County has raised the resale price caps on houses to be built on the cheapest lots in the North 40 affordable housing subdivision next to the Aspen-Airport Business Center.
Prospective homeowners complained to the county that, due to building costs, the resale cap of $275,000 would actually result in them losing money on the sale of a modest home at North 40. The county commissioners, after considering this problem, agreed Wednesday to raise the resale price cap to $325,000, but only on the 12 lots to be sold for $75,000.
One family of four received a $251,000 estimate to build a 1,750-square-foot house with a detached garage, not including school-impact fees or the cost of a building permit. With a lot price of $75,000, the home would cost $326,000.
In a letter to commissioners, the prospective homeowners said they couldn’t afford to take a loss of $30,000 to $50,000 that they would not be allowed to recover in the resale of their houses.
Lance Clarke, deputy director of Community Development, asked the board to also approve a clause making it clear that the houses built in the development would be allowed to appreciate as specified in the housing guidelines that apply to units in the resident-occupied (RO) category.
Aspen City Council considers additional increases to food tax refund
Just as everyone was getting used to the $15 increase in the food tax refund, Aspen City Council unanimously agreed that they’d like to see it increase even more.