Officials hope to dispel rumors surrounding workforce housing project

June 21--Rumors are circulating that a 20-story building will be constructed in midtown Ruidoso for low-income housing on property left over from five acres purchased by the village for a municipal parking lot.

Neither assertion, 20-stories nor low-income, is true, Ruidoso Community Development Director Bradford Dyjak said Wednesday. Residents and business owners will have a chance during a meeting of the Ruidoso Workforce Housing Advisory Board meeting at 2 p.m., June 28, to learn the facts surrounding the proposal being reviewed to use that land.

Architectural standards in midtown limit building height to a maximum 35 feet, essentially three stories, the same as some of the adjacent hotels, Dyjak said. And the units are aimed at people with viable jobs, who pass credit and criminal background checks, he said.

"It's concerning," he said of the wilder claims he has heard.."I certainly respect the residents interests and concerns. There are a number of items that need to be taken under advisement that bear further research. We in the due diligence stage.

"But at the same time, it's disingenuous if we are having conversations and there is this (extreme) speculation. We're committed to moving forward and trying to dispel some of those concerns and questions, and we are trying to discuss it within the realm of the facts of the program,"

A fact sheet was prepared to hand out to people who attend the meeting, he said.

"We have property we are evaluating," Dyjak said. "No decisions have been made. It would have to go to the village council, if it were to move forward. The public would have an opportunity to weigh in on the design and layout and all the issues associated with a normal site plan.

"There's a number of steps in the proces and I hope we all are speaking the facts. if you talk about facts, you can reasonably disagree and that's fair."

Some of the confusion may stem from a packet assembled to review for a previous workforce housing advisory board meeting that shows examples of structures built by the Chelsea Investment Corporation, a firm that works with the Eastern Regional Housing Authority.One of the structures rises 16 floors.

"The village certainly is committed to the evaluation of this potential property for use in this project, but we want to reassure people that if we move forward, there is a commitment to workforce housing within the perameters and guidelines of the new Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority," Dyjak said. "This is something that will be a benefit and not a detraction."

As part of the packet on seeking workforce housing, "current progress" listed the sale of a large tract to a housing developer at Grindstone subdivision with a portion of the proceeds deposited in a designated trust fund; a smaller tract sold with proceeds deposited and other tracts identified; the council adopted a trust fund and land bank ordinance; inventoried and began planning for future village lots; is drafting an ordinance allowing accessory dwellings; drafting criteria for partnerships and incentives and seeking a developer for publicly-owned sites.

Some of the land reviewed for use included a potential swap with Presbyterian Healthcare Services or with the Ruidoso School District. The advisory board also looked at potential private partners collaboration through private development on a parcel identified as the Roblas Tract and on the Midtown Warren tract, as well as existing publicly-owned lots.

A statement in the fact sheet reads that affordable housing, also called workforce housing, refers to housing prices that are not inflated by certain economic factors such as tourism, high income neighborhood or real estate markets.

"It is not the same concept as HUD (Housing and Urban Development) housing or housing that is paid for by vouchers," the sheet states. "It is intended to give a viable workforce a safe and affordable place to live with the convenience of walkability and easy, affordable access to community."

Units can be rental or ownership reasonably afforded by a moderate to middle income.. Examples cited were based on someone earning 60 percent of the median income in Lincoln County of $55,500. Monthly rents for two people in a house would be about $587, for three, $706, and for four, $910.

Ten-year objectives for what is needed in the village covers 220 units of affordable housing, 305 units of rental housing, 25 units of senior independent living, 15 units of senior assisted living, 20-50 units of housing rehabilitation, 25 units of transitional housing and preparation for 20 families annually that will need emergency services and help with housing.

The fact sheet also noted that the purchase price of the 4.96 acres selected by Chelsea was the appraised value of $1,165,000 and the cost of the parking lot and handicapped compliant ramp was $269,610. The remaining land was to be used for housing or commercial development.

The advisory board meeting is in council chambers at village hall, 313 Cree Meadows Drive.

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