The Steamboat Springs School District is accepting proposals from housing developers to create affordable employee housing west of town within the site of the Sleeping Giant School. 

“The purpose of the (Request for Proposals) is to seek a qualified entity to develop the site, inclusive of utilities, and design and construct a minimum of 20 employee residences on an existing 2.23 acres owned by the Steamboat Springs School District,” said the district in a statement.

Pursuit of the project, explained Superintendent Celine Wicks, is a proactive response to the growing challenges the district has faced in attracting and retaining staff due to severe shortages in affordable housing — a shortage exacerbated since the pandemic. 

In August, the school district announced it was using state grant money to explore the possibility of developing teacher and staff housing on its section of the park, as it faces the prospect of 41% of its staff members leaving in the next five years due to a lack of affordable housing, according to a district feasibility study.

The decision to seek out affordable housing proposals on the Sleeping Giant site comes after the district’s earlier plans to develop housing at Whistler Park fell through due to significant community opposition. In the fall, residents near Whistler Park lobbied city council members to have the city purchase the 9-acre section owned by the school district, expressing concerns about losing valuable green space and recreational areas. 

The school board subsequently announced a pivot away from the Whistler property, shifting focus to the Barber property on the west side of town. This change in direction came after the district received a stop-work order from the Colorado Division of Housing related to budget allocation questions for the Whistler Park project.

Hayden teachers hired from Southeast Asia also faced difficulties in finding housing. Superintendent of the Hayden School District, Eric Owen, and the district school board president, Ryan Wattles, penned a letter to the community, which included asking community members to offer housing assistance for new teachers. 

“Housing affordability remains one of the most pressing issues for our employees,” said Wicks. “Many staff members commute long distances due to the high cost of living in Steamboat Springs. Recent district surveys indicate that a significant percentage of employees — particularly teachers and support staff — struggle to find stable, affordable housing. This directly impacts recruitment, as potential hires have declined offers due to housing costs, and it contributes to retention challenges as well.”

The Sleeping Giant School site was chosen, she said, because it offers district-owned property near existing infrastructure, making it both a practical and economical choice. Its location also addresses the need for workforce housing away from the costly downtown area while remaining conveniently close to schools and community amenities. 

“Funding will come from a mix of public and private sources, including potential grants, district funds, and developer investments,” Wicks said. “Contingency plans are being considered to account for possible delays or cost increases, ensuring that the project remains viable even if unexpected challenges arise.”

Specific terms of residency, such as lease lengths and renewal policies, are still being finalized, said Wicks. While the process of allocating the residences is not yet clear, she explained that the district is developing an equitable and transparent system to ensure fair distribution among staff. 

In the school board’s business meeting Monday, Wicks announced that a local had recently offered to donate land for the project, but that the land would need to be annexed into the city in order to be utilized.

If the land is successfully annexed and determined to be suitable for the project’s purposes, she added, it could open the door for more opportunities for infrastructure support and funding, as well as streamline development and permitting processes. 

“This project is part of a broader effort to provide sustainable solutions to support our educators and staff,” said Wicks. “If this project proves successful, we may explore similar developments at other district-owned properties.”