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Lagom

Projected Completion Winter 2024

Swedish (n). Not too big, Not too Small. Just Right.

Kruse Builders is proud to introduce our latest development in Steamboat: a thoughtfully designed multi-use complex featuring 24 tiny homes and 34 mini storage units. This project represents a significant step forward in addressing the urgent need for affordably priced housing in the area.

Tiny Homes with Big Features
Our compact tiny homes are designed with Scandinavian principles, maximizing space, light, and functionality. Each unit boasts tall 14-foot ceilings, creative storage solutions, an abundance of natural light, and an ample storage loft above half the living space, making them both practical and inviting. These homes provide a private, well-built living space that offers residents a comfortable alternative to crowded housing options.

Convenient Location
Located within walking distance of downtown, our complex provides easy access to the heart of Steamboat, ensuring residents can enjoy all the amenities and attractions the area has to offer.

Availability
We are excited to announce that units will start becoming available this winter. We are currently accepting names on a waitlist, so don't miss the chance to secure your spot in this innovative and much-needed housing solution. While "waitlist" may sound scary, we have not started offering applications to anyone just yet and none of the units have been leased. We will begin that process this fall. 

 

Workforce Housing Commitment

We are especially proud to be the first private developer in Steamboat to offer a complex that is 100% deeded as workforce housing, all without the use of a single taxpayer dollar. We understand the challenges facing our community and are committed to being part of the solution. Our goal is to help alleviate the massive demand for housing by offering well-designed, affordable living spaces for those who contribute to the local workforce. These units are available to anyone who qualifies as part of the local workforce, regardless of income level.

Read more details about workforce elegibility in our FAQ section

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  • What is Workforce Housing?
    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.
  • Is Workforce Housing Required to be Affordable?
    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.
  • Are you working with Yampa Valley Housing Authority?
    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.
  • What is Area Median Income (AMI)?
    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.
  • What's the AMI in Steamboat?
    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.
  • What does AMI have to do with affordability?
    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
  • Get to the point... so am I eligible to apply for one of these tiny homes?
    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.
  • Isn't this the Industrial Zone? How are you putting so much housing here?!
    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.
  • The Industrial Zone is Loud & Stinky. Why would anyone want to live there?
    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.
  • Can I rent a storage unit AND a residence?
    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.
  • Are they going to sink?
    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.
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