District Advances Plans to Support Staff Housing Through Whistler Park Sale

At the October 6 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Celine Wicks and Director of Finance and Operations Stephanie Juneau provided updates on two connected efforts — the potential sale of the district-owned Whistler Park property and the ongoing development of the district’s 22-unit staff housing project. Together, these initiatives aim to help ensure that teachers and staff can afford to live and work in Steamboat Springs.

Whistler Park Property

The Whistler Park property, recently appraised at $3.6 million —approximately $200,000 more than last year —has been recommended for sale. Dr. Wicks shared that she has been in ongoing conversations with Angela Cosby, Director of the City of Steamboat Springs Parks and Recreation Department, and that both the district and the city are interested in a possible purchase that would preserve the land as parkland.

Board members agreed that if the property is sold, it should be sold at full market value. City officials indicated that a potential purchase could align with a July 2027 closing date, with $500,000 available for an initial payment and approximately two months needed for city approval to move forward.

Community members who spoke during public comment expressed appreciation for the collaborative spirit between the school district and Parks and Recreation, as well as for the shared commitment to doing what’s best for the community. The Board of Education approved a resolution authorizing the sale of the Whistler Park property. The resolution authorizes—but does not guarantee—a sale to the city, and Board members emphasized the importance of continued partnership to achieve an outcome that benefits both the district and the broader community.

Proceeds from the potential sale would directly support the district’s staff housing project, helping the district move closer to creating affordable housing opportunities for teachers and staff.

📄 Appraisal Report for Whistler Park Property (12.5 MB)
📄 Whistler Property Sale Resolution (56.6 KB)

Staff Affordable Housing Project

Director of Finance and Operations Stephanie Juneau presented updated financial models showing that projected rental income from the planned 22-unit housing project could cover both principal and interest costs over time. Independent analyses from two professionals confirmed that it is financially feasible for the district to retain ownership of all units.

Superintendent Dr. Celine Wicks explained that pursuing an all-rental model would help ensure that housing remains available to district staff on an ongoing basis. She also discussed the potential for a “waterfall” approach, which could allow some units to be offered for sale or to other local entities in the future if rental demand changes.

Board members underscored the immediate need for teacher housing, noting that short-term rentals could evolve into for-sale options over time. The district is committed to maintaining affordability: rent projections were calculated using one-third of employees’ take-home pay to ensure access across a range of staff positions.

To supplement the funding generated by the Whistler Park property sale, the district is also pursuing additional funding sources, including an application for Short-Term Rental (STR) tax revenue to help finance the project.

Next steps include:

• Distributing a housing needs survey to staff

• Continuing work on financing and partnership options

• Maintaining focus on affordability and sustainability for district employees