Best Western Affordable Housing Project Underway

The City of Durango and TWG Development, LLC, have announced work on the rehabilitation project for the Best Western motel on Highway 160. Work is now underway there to create 120 affordable housing units for Durango. The City of Durango has approved the donation of 49 acres of land adjacent to Oxbow Reserve. And the Durango Police Department is offering free steering wheel locks to owners of some of the most frequently stolen vehicles in Southwest Colorado. You still have time to bid on a one-of-a-kind painted snowboard for the Powder Hounds fundraiser by the La Plata Humane Society. You're watching the Local News Roundup, brought to you by Serious Texas Bar-B-Q and The Payroll Department. I'm Connor Shreve. TWG Development, LLC, in collaboration with the City of Durango, acquired the former Best Western motel off Highway 160, with plans to convert the motel into affordable housing units for the city. The Best Western motel was initially offered for sale in fall of 2021 and the City of Durango submitted an offer-to-purchase agreement with the local housing consulting firm Project Moxie. TWG Development, LLC, was selected as the development partner. The plans to rehabilitate the hotel include renovating 72 existing rooms into studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments and the construction of an additional two buildings to house 49 one- and two-bedroom units. The 120 total units will serve households earning 30% to 60% of the area median income. Community spaces include a community room and kitchen, business center, exercise facility, onsite management, a central laundry facility, a playground picnic area, and a common area with wifi. This project is the first hotel-to-residential conversion in the state of Colorado to utilize tax credit financing and it's the largest-ever tax credit project in Southwest Colorado. The anticipated development costs are estimated to be $35 million, and funding is available from multiple funding sources and partnerships. You can learn more online at the City of Durango. The City Council approved the donation of more than 49 acres of land located north and adjacent to Oxbow Preserve. The land parcels, formally owned by Maddie and William Waters, provides the city with an opportunity to expand wildlife habitat and preservation and Animas River watershed protection, as well as public enjoyment. The project will help retain key open space to support growth and water management to help maintain the recreational, environmental, and aesthetic value of the Animas River Greenway. The next steps for the acquisition include a phase-one environmental assessment, with anticipated completion in two to three weeks, followed by closing documents and processes anticipated to be completed no later than June 1st, 2023. In addition to the wildlife benefits, the additional land may include an expansion to the Animas River Trail. The Durango Police Department is partnering with Hyundai USA to offer free steering wheel locks to city residents who own some of the most frequently stolen vehicles. Colorado does have the highest stolen per capita motor vehicle rate in the country, and the program with Durango Police Department and Hyundai USA aims to help prevent thefts. If you do own a vehicle that matches the make and model on the list of most frequently stolen cars, you are being encouraged to call the Durango Police Department for a free steering wheel lock. You will be asked to provide proof of vehicle registration, as supplies are limited. If you do not own one of the most frequently stolen cars, you can still request a lock, but you'll be placed on a waiting list first. The Durango Police Department encourages residents to help prevent auto theft by locking vehicle doors, removing valuables from inside vehicles, and parking in well-lit areas. You can find more information on motor vehicle theft at lockdownyourcar.org and coloradocrimestats.state.us. There is still time to place a bid on a unique one-of-a-kind painted snowboard for the La Plata Humane Society Powder Hounds Auction. The fundraiser auction began with a kickoff event at Ska Brewing on March 4th and online bidding continues until Saturday, March 11th online at the La Plata Humane Society website. Proceeds will be used to purchase a new transport van for the facility, among other needs. Learn more and find information about these stories and more at durangolocal.news. Thank you for watching this edition of the Local News Roundup. I'm Connor Shreve.

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