Grand Junction council hears plan to study affordable housing on Matching Park land

Grand Junction city staff and the Grand Junction Housing Authority presented a conceptual plan on the potential to site affordable housing on about 14 acres inside Matching Park, and council members directed staff to pursue due diligence, a draft lease and public outreach before any final decision.

City housing manager Ashley Chambers outlined how the proposal fits the city’s recently updated housing strategy and ballot changes that allow long-term leases of city land. “Housing strategy 3 is to leverage city owned land and or strategically acquire land for affordable and mixed income housing,” Chambers said, noting the city’s recent housing goals and the 99‑year lease authority that voters approved via Ballot Measure 2B.

The proposal would use a portion of the 14 acres that the city identified in the park master plan to combine a multifamily housing development with park amenities. Jody Cole, chief executive officer of the Grand Junction Housing Authority, told the council the authority is “very excited about the opportunity to partner with the City” and described an…