Brown Ranch Community Solutions Project

View the video from the Deliberation and Stewardship Team meeting from Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

On occasion, the Brown Ranch Deliberation and Stewardship Team forms Inquiry Teams to take a “deeper dive” on key issues and topics relevant to the work of the DST. The Inquiry Teams explore concerns and issue areas, seeking any consensus points that can help inform the DST’s decision of whether to proceed to subsequent phases. On July 10, a DST Inquiry Team met to explore the funding and financing tools and mechanisms used by housing authorities, cities, and large-scale developers to close the gap between development cost and affordable home prices, and to finance large scale public improvements.

Clarification on Response to DST Question on Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) affordability period:

LIHTC properties have a 15-year compliance period with the IRS, followed by another 15-year extended-use period, during which they must maintain affordability for low-income residents. After this 30-year affordability period, owners are generally able to convert the units to market-rate housing, unless a mission-driven entity purchases the development to further extend the affordability period.

YVHA has the right of first refusal to buy all tax credit projects they have helped develop, and will continue to ask for this in any future LIHTC development they participate in. If YVHA has the capital (forecasting and planning for this is underway), they can buy out for-profit developer partners and keep the housing units affordable. There are financing tools available to a housing authority to continue to extend the affordability period, as well as to continue maintenance and upkeep of the properties. The YVHA property management and finance teams are actively exploring these tools and working on financial planning.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO-July 16, 2025-The City of Steamboat Springs and project partner Community Builders will host a community workshop on Tuesday, July 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Steamboat Springs Community Center - 1605 Lincoln Avenue.

The Brown Ranch Community Solutions event will delve into the topic of who needs housing and invites residents to engage with new housing needs and demand data, share personal experiences, and help shape priorities for who Brown Ranch could serve—as one part of the city’s broader housing strategy.

“This is an opportunity to move beyond headlines and into real conversations—with data, stories, and community input guiding the way,” said Clark Anderson, Executive Director of Community Builders. “It’s not about finding the perfect answer—it’s about finding common ground around what’s possible and what matters to the Steamboat Springs community the most.”

The event will feature findings from the 2025 Housing Market and Demand Study, conducted by Economic & Planning Systems. The data offers a clearer picture of the number of homes needed to address existing gaps in the housing market, as well as the number of homes estimated to be needed to keep up with job growth. Workshop participants will explore key questions such as:

• Who is most impacted by the housing crisis?
• What types of homes are in greatest demand?
• Who would Brown Ranch best serve?

Facilitators will guide community members through a collaborative discussion, encouraging residents to share their lived experiences, reflect on new data, and begin to identify the types of residents and households whose housing needs could be met at Brown Ranch. This second community workshop builds on the initial session held earlier this year, where residents voiced strong support for housing solutions that allow locals—and future generations—to stay and thrive in Steamboat Springs.

“There’s no silver bullet to solve this housing crisis,” said Brad Calvert, Principal Planner with the City of Steamboat Springs. “Brown Ranch is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. This workshop helps us determine if—and how—it fits.”

Free food, childcare with supervised kids’ activities, and Spanish-English interpretation will be provided.

Insights from this workshop will be shared with the Deliberation and Stewardship Team (DST), a group of 40 community members who are meeting monthly to assess the Brown Ranch opportunity and consider paths forward. Information about the project can be found at Brown Ranch Community Solutions Project.

View the video from the Deliberation and Stewardship Team meeting from Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

On occasion, the Brown Ranch Deliberation and Stewardship Team forms Inquiry Teams to take a “deeper dive” on key issues and topics relevant to the work of the DST. The Inquiry Teams explore concerns and issue areas, seeking any consensus points that can help inform the DST’s decision of whether to proceed to subsequent phases. On May 27, a DST Inquiry Team met to engage and learn with experts and each other on the topic of geotechnical analysis of the Brown Ranch property. Watch the meeting video from May 27, 2025.

May 8 Evening Workshop Gauges Community Ideas, Hopes & Concerns

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-April 30, 2025-The City of Steamboat Springs and the Yampa Valley Housing Authority (YVHA), in partnership with Community Builders and Civic Canopy, are engaging the Steamboat Springs community to chart a workable path for the future of Brown Ranch. The first community workshop kicks off the Community Involvement portion of the process.

A year ago, the community was divided over the proposal to build substantial amounts of affordable housing at Brown Ranch, a large undeveloped parcel of land owned by the YVHA, located west of city limits.

In March 2024, after years of planning, voters rejected a proposal to annex Brown Ranch into the city. While this answered one question, it’s also raised lots of others about the future growth, housing, and transportation issues.

Today, much of the community remains divided on the future of the Brown Ranch property, as well as related questions of how Steamboat Springs should grow, if or how to provide affordable homes for those seeking opportunities to live closer to work and services available in Steamboat Springs, and how to sustain the sense of community in the face of such changes and challenges.

Two Colorado nonprofits, Community Builders and Civic Canopy, are currently leading the city and YVHA through a community solutions process to reconcile critical concerns, bridge divisions, rebuild community trust, and meaningfully engage community members in learning and problem-solving around Brown Ranch.

As part of the process, a community workshop is being held Thursday, May 8 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Howelsen Hill’s Olympian Hall, 845 Howelsen Parkway. The evening session will look to help develop a shared vision the community can get behind. Perspectives from all sides are being sought so interactive dialogue can identify hopes, concerns and a future direction.

Over the next several months, the team will host small group conversations, larger community events (like the upcoming workshop), and online learning activities, inviting the community to share their ideas, hopes, and concerns. Sign up and follow the project on EngageSteamboat to stay informed and have your voice heard.

-WeServeTheCity-

Contact
Brad Calvert, Principal Planner, 970-871-8214 or email
Michael Lane, Communications Manager, 970-871-8220 or email
Emily Hines, Marketing & Communications Supervisor, 970-871-7031 or email