Dear Editor,

I found Trustee Tom Mahowald’s article “Great News” summary indeed great news; exciting and hopeful for the future (and stability) of Nederland’s’ families and workforce. And, I hope it will become a regular feature of the newspaper.

As the “birthmother” of the discussion on housing in Nederland, having worked tirelessly for over a decade, into my “elder” years, I’m tired and worn out. But happy that many people are now engaged in making Affordable Housing, now referred to as Below-Market – Workforce; and Low-income, now referred to as Subsidized Housing, a diverse reality.

However, there’s an ongoing oversight I feel compelled to keep bringing up: that of senior housing. To be more specific, subsidized senior housing, wherein rent is based on 30% of income from all sources. Not the county Average Median Income (AMI), nor having employment income.

Most residents are unaware that Nederland has, and was, the first subsidized housing site built in the state of Colorado in the 1980s. It’s a small 6-unit Senior (and people with disabilities) site built 38 years ago, on E. 2nd Street called Prime Haven; after the Prime family of Nederland who donated the little plot of land it sits on. Yes, just six small old senior units owned by Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA).

The median age in the city and county of Boulder as of 2023 is 29 years of age. In Nederland, many people are transplants from around the country. Like in the movie from the 1970s, Logans Run, many young people in the Nederland area have few interactions with, know, or have seen seniors, except perhaps on certain occasions.

We are pretty much the “shadow” people, and our need, especially for contemporary, sustainable, fully ADA-compliant housing is rarely if ever considered. After conversations with people who know the data in our community, to meet the crucial subsidized housing need for seniors in our community, approximately 16-24 one-bedroom (600 sq ft) subsidized units are needed.

So, I urge and plead with you, as I’ve been doing for the past 12 years, when talking about and discussing Below Market and Workforce housing, to please, please, please make a part of all discussions the crucial need for subsidized senior housing as a normal part of all discussions. Please help us long-time elder community members not be driven from the community due to lack of subsidized senior housing.

Atashnaa Medicineshield Werner

Nederland Area 40-year resident