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Affordable housing group marks 10th anniversary

The Regional Housing Alliance of La Plata County, an agency that provides tools and resources to achieve home-ownership, is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

It will host a reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave., according to an Alliance news release.

In 2004 when the alliance was formed, Bob Lieb, Ellen Park, Reid Ross, Joe Colgan and the late Bill Mashaw were the community leaders who spearheaded the movement during a time when the housing marketing was struggling.

“This is why we created the RHA, to ensure that working families can remain in our community and afford to purchase a quality home,” said Lieb, former county commissioner and founding Regional Housing Alliance board member, in the news release. “I am proud to be a founder of the RHA. It has grown into a robust agency that has created hundreds of homeowners and is now beginning to create much needed rental opportunities as well.”

The Alliance has also been active in supporting the development of affordable rental units, the release said. This summer, the 50-unit Lumien Apartment Community broke ground at the southeast corner of 32nd Street and East Animas Village Drive. The one- and two-bedroom units will be available to households that earn less than 60 percent Area Median Income ($35,280 per year for a family of two). Rents will range from $350 to $825 per month.

Another significant accomplishment of the RHA has been the adoption of the Fair Share Ordinance at the city of Durango, the release said. This ordinance, which was adopted in 2008, requires that 16 percent of all new residential development be affordable to households that earn less than $85,000.

“This policy will ensure that as our community grows, we grow to include working families,” said Karen Iverson, executive director of the Regional Housing Alliance, in the news release.

vguthrie@durangoherald.com



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