Officials split on new funding

A joint meeting Tuesday with Aspen and Pitkin County elected officials aimed at getting both boards they represent to agree on a future affordable housing program was not as “kumbaya” of a moment as some had hoped for.

Aspen City Councilman Ward Hauenstein said he was disappointed, disheartened and hurt by comments made by some commissioners at a meeting this month in response to the city’s request that the county put a funding question on the ballot in November specifically to pay for new affordable housing.

He referred to Pitkin County Commissioner Greg Poschman’s comments about the city’s 300plus- unit Lumberyard affordablehousing development that’s planned across from the airport being “stuffed … down people’s throats.”

“We, as City Council, have defined housing as a top priority. … It’s not just a city issue; it’s all of us. … But I am really looking at a kumbaya moment here where we’ve agreed to working together in the same direction,” Hauenstein said.

Poschman said he apologized if he offended or hurt Hauenstein’s feelings, but it doesn’t change his position, based partially on constituents he has heard from, that the Lumberyard project will add growth, will take up environmental resources and could reduce quality of life for residents, among other concerns.

He also said he was taken aback by the city’s letter asking him to put a question to voters.

“It looked like an ask to raise money from taxpayers without any real specific ask,” Poschman said. “I think I need to understand who it’s for, where is it going, who’s going to get it, what’s it going to cost, at what cost to the community will it be and what other growth will it generate.”

Poschman, who was attending the meeting virtually on Zoom, said he will be looking at the community for alternative solutions and answers because, as he suggested, there is a lot of distrust, concern and fear within the Aspen- Pitkin County Housing Authority program, which manages 3,200 deed- restricted units.

“I wonder sometimes if APCHA has gotten so big that we are becoming a company town, and I don’t like the smell of that,” he said.

There were times during the meeting that the tension between the two boards was palpable.

Councilwoman Rachel Richards asked him a series of questions all pointing to whom he believes that future deed- restricted housing should be built.

“Thanks, Rachel. I think that is a loaded question, as I always expect from you,” he said. “These are tough choices. If the snowplow driver can’t figure out a way to get housing here and … we can choose and we can offer housing to people we deem essential to keep the services for our community going.”

County Commissioner Patti Clapper said she appreciated Poschman’s comments but prioritizing and defining workers as essential is not a concept that the board has discussed.

But she said she is supportive of working with the city in the future.

“I have always been a supporter of affordable housing, and I continue to be ready, willing and able to find a way to fund it,” Clapper said.

The county spends $ 1 million to $ 2 million a year on housing, and that money is generated by impact fees placed on freemarket development. The city generates tens of millions of dollars annually through real estate transfer and sales taxes and is a major provider of affordable housing.

The position of some city officials is that the municipal government can’t carry the load in addressing the housing shortage, and other jurisdictions need to step up.

Commissioners agreed that they would continue to talk about future funding sources to pay for specific affordable housing programs and projects.