Dear Editor,

I grew up in the1950s, for the most part in what was called Public Housing, built after WWII. It’s now called Subsidized (capped at 30% of gross income; which is the national rental standard) and Affordable (below-market rental rate) housing.

The greatest housing need, not just in Nederland, is for subsidized one- and two-bedroom housing. “If you build it, they will come.” When I started the conversation of public housing for Nederland over a decade ago, and brokered the partnership between the town of Nederland and Boulder County (that we are dependents of) Housing Authority (BCHA), it was to meet the growing need of P2P residents.

The first housing that was to be built was Senior Housing. The purpose: to meet the growing need of aging residents of the P2P area; those residents who are already here, especially as renters, so as not to become disenfranchised from the community.This is far different than relocating from, say, Boulder to Louisville, etc. However, it was redirected for a couple of reasons.

Then on to build housing for individuals, and people who grew up here, returning with families of their own. But a turn was taken. It was not a true partnership. BCHA listen to us. However, they are bound by certain rules/regulations. Thus, we have very little say when it comes to meeting the needs of our community. Among them: giving locals first priority.

Tungsten Village has quite a turnover rate, and the majority of tenants that have come and gone is because they were/are not from the P2P area. The realities set in for them of things we’ve learned to live with.

You want to know the history of Public Housing in Nederland? Advocate, activist, expert for over a decade – I am the “go-to” person. Infill would be ideal for subsidized and affordable housing. However, the realities can’t and don’t support it. a) There is only one reasonable tract of land, next to the post office, and the owner is not interested in selling it. b) It could only be done by a public-private development partnership for affordable housing to build two-story buildings on the upper level. And, what would happen to the existing businesses while that is going on?

Thus, the only option is annexation beyond the current town limits. Concentrated subsidized and affordable housing will not diminish the wildlife habitat, watershed protection, or undeveloped tracts of open space, nor enjoyment of the surrounding national forest any more than the annexations that occurred to build the subdivisions of Big Springs, Ridge Road, Indian Peaks, nor Caribou Ridge, nor the junior-senior high school, elementary school, or the tennis/ice rink.

Input on the IGA has been solicitated on numerous occasions through various public means over the years. I suppose the town could possibly continue to come up with ideas to solicit more input again and again from the broader community, in hopes to garner a larger percentage of input from different people. However, it is my belief that, while well-intended, the 20-year old IGA is outdated, and the time has come to meet the need of the many for a true public-private partnership to build concentrated sustainable public housing.

Atashnaa Werner

Nederland