Lagom

Workforce housing is like a special invitation to live in Steamboat for those who make the community thrive. It's built to specific standards to ensure that the people who work full-time in Routt County or have recently retired from working here can find a place to call home. To qualify, you either need to be working full-time or self-employed in the area, recently ceased the same qualifying work, or have an income that’s 120% or less than the Area Median Income (AMI). It's housing designed with the local workforce in mind, ensuring that the people who contribute to the community have a great place to live.

Surprisingly, no! There’s actually no rule that says workforce housing has to be affordable. But we thought, “What’s the point if it’s not?!” That’s why we intentionally designed all of this deeded workforce housing to be both high-quality while functionally compact, so the open market would keep it affordable.

Nope, we're not working with the housing authority or using any taxpayer dollars or grants for this project. It's purely born out of a focus on creative, private solutions to tackle the housing challenges our community is facing. It's all about innovative design and commitment to making a positive impact on our own terms.

AMI stands for Area Median Income, which is a way to measure the middle income level for a specific area. Imagine lining up all the households in the area from the lowest to the highest income—AMI is the point right in the middle where half the households earn more and half earn less. It’s defined by the State of Colorado, county by county, and then used to determine eligibility for certain types of housing and assistance programs. For example, if your income is 120% or less of the AMI, in Steamboat that's one of the 3 possible items that can make you eligible to live in a unit deeded for workforce housing.

AMI varies by county and it's updated annually by HUD, but in Routt County in 2024, for a household of 1 it's $83,400. It also varies by the number of people in your household, including both adults and children.

You can reference the chart below. For example, if you're a single person who makes $100,080 a year, you technically make 120% of the AMI in Routt County. Or if you're a family of 4 who makes $59,550, then your household makes 50% of the AMI. If your household fits it this chart anywhere, you're eligible for deed-restricted Workforce Housing in Routt County.

AMI is a key factor in determining whether housing is affordable for a given household. The general guideline is that your housing costs—rent, utilities, parking, and other related expenses—shouldn't exceed 30% of your annual income. If your income is at or below a certain percentage of the AMI (often 120% or less), housing is considered affordable if it meets this 30% rule. Essentially, AMI helps gauge whether housing costs are reasonable compared to what people in the area typically earn.

Use the chart below as a reference, but depending on your houshold size, these are the housing expense amounts that qualify within each bracket of AMI percentage. This chart was taken directly from the CHFA 2024 Income Limits and Maximum Rent Chart, which can be found at https://www.chfainfo.com/getattachment/32e3fe74-40b0-445a-bb45-c35d23241acf/2024-Rent-and-income-limits.pdf

Can you answer yes to ANY of these questions?

1) Do you work full time in Routt County?

2) Do you live in Routt County and are self-employed full time?

3) Does your household make 120% of the AMI or less (see other AMI FAQ's if you don't know)

4) Did you work 5 out of the last 6 years in Routt County or self employed here?

If you can say yes to even ONE of them, yes you're in when it comes to Workforce Housing! Add your name to the waitlist!

We do still make sure you qualify financially, do backgrounds checks, check references, etc., but that's all part of the application process that will begin this fall.

This is a popular question, and the answer is actually pretty simple! The community development code actually allows for quite a few different types of housing within the Industrial Zone without variances, as long as certain standards are met. These standards vary by zone, but in the Industrial Zone, they mainly regulate the maximum size per unit and require that all residential units be on the second level.

We did have a unique situation with this project. Once you reach a certain number of units, other codes kick in that require some units to be accessible for people who are differently abled. This meant we had to include one residential unit on the ground floor—a common accommodation in city developments.

Sure, the Industrial Zone can definitely be a noisy, bustling place, and during the day. But here's the secret: having lived on this street ourselves, we think it's one of Steamboat's best-kept secrets. If you can handle a bit of truck traffic during the day, you'll be rewarded with peaceful evenings on 13th and Captain Jack. The wetlands nearby come alive with singing frogs in the spring and beautiful birds year-round, making it a surprisingly serene spot to call home.

Absolutely! In fact, if you're among the first, you might even be able to choose units in the same building, keeping all your belongings conveniently under one roof. Plus, if a more convenient storage unit becomes available later, you'll have the first right of refusal to move your stuff to the newly vacated storage unit.

We’ve heard this question (and more than a few snide remarks on social media) about the surrounding wetlands. But fear not—our tiny homes are not about to take a dive! That’s what structural engineers, civil engineers, and a whole lot of underground concrete are for. They’ve got the building magic covered, so the only thing that might sink is a particularly ambitious garden gnome.

Technically, a tiny home is defined by building codes that allow for specific adjustments, like different room sizes and stair slants. But in everyday terms, it's a compact and efficient living space typically between 100 and 400 square feet. Tiny homes are designed to make the most of limited space with smart storage solutions, multi-purpose furniture, and lots of natural light. They embrace a minimalist lifestyle by focusing on essentials and reducing clutter. They’re popular for their affordability, sustainability, and the simplicity they bring to living.

Living in a tiny home definitely requires some creative thinking when it comes to your belongings, but many people find it surprisingly liberating, helping them focus on what really matters. Here are some tips for managing your stuff:

1. Declutter: Start by going through your belongings and deciding what you truly need and love. Donate or sell items you can live without.

2. Smart Storage Solutions: Our Tiny homes comes with lots of built-in storage options like clever closet systems, lofts, and built-in shelves. Utilize every nook and cranny efficiently.

3. Multi-Use Furniture: Invest in furniture that serves multiple purposes, like a bed with drawers underneath or a dining table that doubles as a desk.

4. Minimalist Approach: Embrace a minimalist lifestyle where you keep only the essentials. It can be refreshing and simplify your life.

5. And if all else fails, you can rent one of the 34 mini-storage units on site below the residences!

While we admire your adventurous spirit, we recommend accommodating one person or a very well-acquainted couple in each tiny home. The compact design is best suited for a single person, and practical considerations like the limitation of only one parking spot per unit will also influence the number of residents.

These homes are designed to maximize efficiency for a single person or couple who prefers not to have to be crammed in with roommates.

Each unit comes with one dedicated parking space. There are guest parking spaces for day use, but they are not allowed to be used as regular overnight parking.

Yes, utilities are included as a flat rate along with rent each month, and depend on how many tenants are on each lease. Check for updated rent amounts at our rental website here: https://www.longtermsteamboat.com/lagom

Yes, we do! Each of our 24 residences will allow one well-behaved dog. While having 24 dogs on a small site is certainly a unique situation, we love dogs as much as you do and are excited to see how this experiment unfolds. We’re confident that with your help, it will be a success.

To start, we’re offering pet owners a 3-month trial rental period, with month-to-month flexibility and no rent increases during this time. After the trial period, responsible pet owners and their dogs will be eligible for a full lease, along with a pet deposit and pet rent. While most pet owners are responsible, we’ve had a few challenges in the past, so this trial will help ensure a good fit for everyone.

To maintain a pleasant environment for all, we will not tolerate excessive barking or issues with pet cleanup. We understand how difficult it can be to find pet-friendly housing, and we want to be one of the few landlords in the area that accommodates dogs. Please help us keep this option available for future tenants by being a responsible pet owner.