The Grand Junction City Council on June 18 approved a 99‑year lease of 2.91 acres of city‑owned Salt Flats property to Volunteers of America (VOA) for a proposed affordable‑housing development.

Ashley Chambers, the city’s housing manager, told council the lease implements the city’s housing strategy and the community’s 2023 ballot measure (2B) that allows city land to be leased for up to 99 years for affordable housing. The lease covers the northwest corner of the Salt Flats parcel and includes a seven‑year development commitment: VOA and its developer partner, MGL Partners, aim to develop roughly 110 units on that 2.91‑acre parcel; if financing and development milestones are not met within seven years the property or remaining portions revert to the city.

Chambers said the Salt Flats site is about 21.78 acres, acquired in January 2024 with a CHFA land‑banking grant of $2.2 million and a $1.0 million city match. The city also obtained grant funding to support infrastructure and has set a minimum target of 324 units on the site (70% required to be affordable under grant terms). VOA’s first phase would focus on senior units with a veterans preference and proposes to use eight project‑based vouchers from the VA for previously homeless veterans. VOA’s developer partner is MGL Partners and the Grand Junction Housing Authority will be a special limited partner; Brickwell was selected as master planner for the whole Salt Flats site.

Chambers said VOA intended to submit a Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) application on Aug. 1 for an initial phase of about 62 units targeted at 60% AMI and below, with an income mix aiming for an average near 50% AMI (including 30% and 40% AMI units). Council member Scott Biafis asked whether any areas of the city will be exempt from state ADU/land rules later discussed in the meeting; staff clarified the VOA site is city property under the city’s housing strategy.

Council Member Stout moved to adopt ordinance No. 5262 authorizing the city manager to sign the lease agreement; council approved the measure 6‑0 on final passage. The city will count the proposed units toward the municipality’s Proposition 123 targets for near‑term housing production and will proceed with required financing and LIHTC application steps.

Next steps include VOA submitting financing applications, staff coordination on infrastructure and bus routing with Grand Valley Transit, and continuing master‑planning work for the larger Salt Flats property.