The cost estimate to update the aging sewer and water infrastructure at Whitehaven Mobile Home Park in west Steamboat Springs has grown to $3.2 million with the goal to start work in spring 2025 to connect the park to city services.

Yampa Valley Housing Authority purchased the Whitehaven park in 2022 through generous contributions by two anonymous donors and favorable loans, and the housing authority continues to apply for grant funding to upgrade the water and sewer infrastructure and tie into city services.

Elliott Lawrence, deputy director at Yampa Valley Housing Authority, said the growing cost of the project construction is creating a challenge while also trying to keep park lot rents affordable and attainable. The previous estimate in summer 2023 for the water and sewer upgrade was $2.5 million with cost estimates provided by Baseline Engineering in Steamboat, Lawrence said.

Lawrence said the housing authority hopes to start the work in April depending on the results of current grant funding efforts for the project that would require six to eight months to complete. The city planning department granted approval in summer 2023 for the park to connect to city sewer and water lines, Lawrence said.

As soon as the large infrastructure project is completed, the housing authority intends to “re-engage with tenants at Whitehaven” to see if the 27 homeowners would like to try to become self-owned.

“If not, we are more than happy to continue to manage and operate the park for them,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence said a survey was sent out to Whitehaven owners earlier this year in conjunction with grant funding efforts, and some 50% of the Whitehaven owners were interested in forming a resident-owned community.

“We’ve received varying opinions, so nothing is in place that says that this is a done deal” for a possible transition to a resident-owned community, Lawrence said.

The housing authority received $1 million of congressionally directed spending funds toward the Whitehaven project. Lawrence said YVHA is applying for or exploring a variety of grants or low-interest loans from resources ranging from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority.

The aging water system at the park has experienced multiple breaks and leaks within the past 10 months, and the housing authority has funded three different repairs for about $18,000, Lawrence said.

“We look at that as a Band-Aid, and we really need to get off the well,” Lawrence said.

Officials from the housing authority also are helping advise the residents at Milner Mobile Home Park toward the goal of resident ownership. The 40 homeowners at the Milner park, where the out-of-state property owner intends to put the park on the market for $8 million, are concerned about lot rate increases that would likely come with that hefty sale price if sold to another investor-owner.

“The community member leadership team in Milner is taking all the necessary steps now to create the cooperative to be in a position to make an offer for the park; however, challenges still remain around funding to maintain the affordable of that purchase,” said Jason Peasley, housing authority executive director.

Mobile home lot rents across Routt County range as low as $450 in parks owned by the housing authority, to the current $925 lot rent at the park in Milner, to up to $1,175 at Dream Island and up to $1,375 at West Acres in Steamboat, according to manager information and real estate listings.

Through the housing authority ownership, Whitehaven lot rents have remained affordable at $660-$695 including water, sewer, trash pickup and snow removal. Residents are responsible for utilities and home mortgage payments.