The Steamboat Springs School Board on Aug. 11 discussed selling a 9.2-acre district parcel in Whistler and reviewed a staff-affordable-housing proposal for the Sleeping Giant area that administrators said could deliver 22 townhouse-style units.

Board President Katie Lee told members the district and city had discussed a possible sale of the Whistler parcel, and that district staff recommend selling the property. "We would love to sell this to the city to keep that as a park," Lee said, while stressing the conversations were preliminary and the process could take years.

On staff housing, the district reported an April RFP produced four responses and a nine-member review committee recommended Rural Homes (led by Paul Major) as the preferred developer. The proposal would create 22 units—about 10 units the district would purchase as rentals and 12 units offered for sale through the developer. Administrators said the overall project cost is roughly $10,000,000 and the district would need approximately $5,000,000 for its purchase of the rental units.

Stephanie Juno (director of finance) and Pascal Genesta (facilities director) were listed as part of the summer review team. Administrators said the project will not use "Prop 1 2 3" funding because that funding source would limit eligibility to 100% AMI and therefore would not reach many staff. They also described a planned waterfall allocation for sales and rentals that would first serve district staff and then expand to police, fire, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and other local employers.

Staff said the development depends on resolving a water connection for the Sleeping Giant parcel: district leaders described water as the "first hurdle" and said the project requires coordination with the city and the local water district before entitlements or construction can proceed. The district also plans to seek a new property appraisal for Whistler in September and would present valuation and sale terms to the board.

City Parks and Recreation Director Angela Cosby and community member Kathy Kanell spoke during public comment and voiced support for continued collaboration between the city and district to find a community-minded outcome. Cosby thanked district staff for "having collaborative conversations with the city."

Board members expressed support for proceeding with due diligence. Laura Craig said the district should pursue top market value for any sale, and several board members emphasized community preferences for keeping Whistler as parkland if the city can acquire it. Board members asked staff to investigate water, entitlements and financing and to return with valuations and next steps; no formal sale motion was made at the meeting.

Administrators said they would visit comparable Rural Homes developments in early fall, proceed with a September appraisal of Whistler, and further analyze financing and water access before bringing a formal sale or purchase decision back to the board.