Coloradans around the state are working together to come up with a variety of solutions, big and small, to address our housing crisis, which threatens the competitiveness of Colorado as one of the best states in the country to live and work. In the midst of this crisis, the Vail town council is actively working to condemn a privately funded attempt to deliver meaningful solutions for housing.
We encourage our members to tell Vail town council to support private property rights and to stop blocking private sector attainable workforce housing development. Use the following one-click link to share your thoughts with the town council: https://p2a.co/akktsvw
Our letter submitted to town council:
Town Council members,
Vail Valley Partnership’s board of governors – representing over 900 organizations in Eagle County and over 80% of the local workforce – unanimously supports the proposed workforce housing development in East Vail.
Of equal or greater importance, we vehemently oppose the use of eminent domain to condemn this private property. We do not believe that government should be punitive against private businesses because you may disagree with them.
Government seizure of private lands is extreme action and should be opposed. The Town of Vail has taken strides to be a good partner in addressing the workforce housing issue through the development of projects such as Lions Ridge, Chamonix, and Residences at Main Vail and through programs such as Vail InDeed. Throwing away this goodwill through government overreach is ill-advised and unfortunate. We encourage you to avoid the use of eminent domain of private property.
The courts have ruled development can occur. We should all share the concern about the condemnation of private property regardless of your opinion on workforce housing, or your opinion on environmental impacts of development. It is telling that no opposition or condemnation of private property has occurred for other development in the East Vail bighorn sheep range.
To be clear, we are housing advocates and have a long history of supporting workforce housing projects throughout the Eagle River Valley. This project meets our criteria for support. Public sentiment for workforce housing has long been favorable and this project meets an important need for housing within the town of Vail limits. But in this case, it’s not about housing – it’s about the role of government – and we believe that condemnation is unwarranted and unnecessary.
Sincerely,
Chris Romer
President & CEO
Vail Valley Partnership