The affordable housing program overseen by Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority, a joint venture between the City of Aspen and Pitkin County has the stated mission:
Purpose— “To assure the existence of a supply of desirable and affordable housing for persons currently employed in Pitkin County, persons who were employed in Pitkin County prior to retirement, the handicapped, and other qualified persons of Pitkin County . . .”
—Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority Guidelines - (Originally Adopted 1983)
The APCHA was established for the purpose of effecting the planning, financing, acquisition, construction, reconstruction or repair, maintenance, management and operation of housing projects pursuant to a multi-jurisdictional plan to provide residential facilities and dwelling accommodations at rental or sale prices within the means of persons of low, moderate and middle income who are permanent residents and persons employed in the City and County
—APCHA Guidelines-Creation Document January 2013
DESIRABLE?
Centennial condos were poorly designed and constructed in order to meet an artificially low standard of affordability. Due to pervasive water intrusion, they have rotting structural members, elevated levels of mold, and interior leaks popping up continually. They are cold, inefficient and noisy due to minimal insulation and windows and doors not built for this environment.
AFFORDABLE?
Due to the need for extensive repairs to correct design flaws and shoddy construction and with emergency repairs arising all the time due to things like improperly sealed sewage pipes, Centennial dues are higher than any affordable housing HOA and most likely every free market HOA in the valley. If they wish to see their buildings made safe for the future, individual owners are now facing special assessments between $25,000 and $45,000 plus $1,000 a year in Capital Reserve collections to keep up with the aging infrastructure.
