Tuesday 25 October was a big day for the highly anticipated Chaffee Housing Trust (CHT) project at West 3rd and M streets in Salida. The site will soon offer six affordable homes in a variety of sizes, types and price ranges, some for sale and others for rent.
“Our mission is focused on enabling the responsible development of the community by providing affordable and sustainable homeownership and rentals to eligible residents,” said CHT Executive Director Reed McCulloch.
Liebherr all-terrain cranes manufactured by RMS Cranes in Colorado Springs. Operator Josh controls the boom while his partner communicates on the radio and manually guides the device into place. Photo by Merrell Bergin
A huge Liebherr all-terrain crane manufactured by RMS Cranes in Colorado Springs with a 196-foot boom (and the famous $2 million price tag) is driving down the dirt road behind the house. It was followed by a number of flatbed semi-trailers, each with an accommodation module.
The modules are manufactured in Pueblo, Colorado and are custom made for each facility. However, due to US 50 lane restrictions (and the tight turns of the canyon), they had to travel a long way through La Veta, the Alamosa, and the Poncha Pass.
RMS Cranes unloads IndieDwell Modular Housing for Chaffee Housing Trust in Salida, October 26, 2022. Video by Merrell Birkin
RMS crane operators carefully dock IndieDwell modular housing at the Chaffee Housing Trust project at West 3rd and M Streets in Salida, Colorado. Merrell Bergin Videos
After several modules for the largest apartment (with three bedrooms) were installed, Ark Valley Voices got in touch with the team. While waiting for the RMS Crane crew to install the next module, Alonzo Hernandez allowed the Voice of the Ark Valley to infiltrate every room within.
Hernandez is an outside expert for IndieDwell, a large modular home manufacturer headquartered in Boise, Idaho with factories in Pueblo, Colorado, California and Virginia. After discussing the details with his teammates Leo and Billy, Hernandez explained that the houses went through at least 15 stages or “stops” of construction.
The process begins with the foundation, then the frame and walls. The exoskeleton of each unit is made of cold-formed steel. IndieDwell units use rigid Styrofoam and Styrofoam for walls, and Styrofoam and fiberglass for ceiling insulation. Electrical comes in second, followed by plumbing. Next comes textured drywall and finally concrete siding.
Hernandez said their team enjoyed working on the CHT River Ridge project in Salida. They have already completed work in Pagosa Springs in Archuleta County and will soon be working on projects elsewhere in Fairplay and Front Range.
According to the IndieDwell website, their buildings come with all interior fittings such as plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, and appliances. These units are equipped with a washer and dryer.
Each home includes a high performance split mini heat pump and an air conditioner that provides heating and cooling from a single unit. These energy efficient units transfer heat rather than produce it, and use more sophisticated refrigeration compressors and fans that significantly reduce energy costs compared to traditional systems.
The RMS Cranes team prepares to lift modular housing units onto the foundation of the Chaffee Housing Trust site at West 3rd Street and M Street in Salida. Photo by Merrell Bergin
Energy recovery fans are part of the system to maintain a healthy indoor climate. This is a special device that helps maintain indoor air quality by supplying fresh air and removing stale air through a HEPA filter.
Each home has 15 energy efficiency and sustainability features that are in line with the manufacturer’s stated mission and building principles.
The houses are 100% electric and zero-emission-ready. This means that solar panels can be easily added, which is in line with the latest trends in renewable energy and eliminates fossil fuels such as natural gas. CHT is working on new funding options to help install solar panels for the project.
Under the Federal Inflation Reduction Act, 30% of the cost of photovoltaic (solar) installations for non-commercial housing can be offset by grants. This will allow CHT to solve (reduce) utility bills by removing the ongoing burden on homeowners. If the IRA program is successful, CHT says they can use it for all future projects as well as upgrades from past projects (Old Stage Road, River Ridge).
Building on the success of its newly opened eight-unit River Ridge condominium, Chaffee Housing Trust (CHT) sought to apply lessons learned and build six unique value-for-money homes on the same block in downtown Salida.
Modular housing units form the core of the Chaffee Housing Trust project at West 3rd and M Streets in Salida. Photo by Merrell Bergin
In a conversation with McCulloch Wednesday at a construction site, the West 3rd and M Street projects aim to tick off a few items on a “community needs checklist” for affordable housing. The project portfolio is intended for apartments of various sizes and price ranges.
McCulloch explained that it was “on a very small scale, [showing] a need.” He added: “There is a wide range of needs, from small starter houses to larger units.”
McCulloch notes that while the definition of “affordable” and the eligibility criteria for regional median income (AMI) are relative (and increasing every year), their divisions offer “up to 100% funding – no down payment”, otherwise it’s a huge an obstacle for most buyers.
Accessibility is another goal of the project. In addition to being designed to be accessible to residents with hearing and visual impairments, another 564-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bath unit is fully wheelchair accessible and is now planned for senior veterans, McCulloch said. . . To do this, CHT has partnered with Habitat for Humanity Colorado to create additional incentives to further reduce housing costs. This is just one example of what CHT is doing to make the most of every dollar.
In addition to development projects and land banks, CHT also offers a range of services to help potential homebuyers. They provide financial education and home advice to help homebuyers prepare, including clearing credit scores and guiding the mortgage lending process.
While the modules may look like boxes wrapped in white at the moment, they will soon turn into finished dwellings. After placing each module, it must be welded to the steel plates fixed at the corners of the foundation. Steel columns are also placed in the middle of the foundation to support the structure.
Then you need to install the exterior siding and roof and connect the communications. With the exception of one of the three-bedroom apartments, CHT owns all of the homes listed for sale under the contract, McCulloch said.
The buyer is currently approved by the USDA for a mortgage loan and is awaiting final approval of the mortgage loan.
CHT expects to receive a Certificate of Commissioning (CO) in January and will close and move in shortly thereafter.
For those who say “nothing has happened to affordable housing in Salida,” this project is an example of a multi-year effort to house six families in a desirable, walkable neighborhood. From acquiring city-owned land to rezoning, redeveloping M Street and building new utilities, CHT has overcome many hurdles, with construction costs skyrocketing during the pandemic.
More work needs to be done to define what is now considered a full blown housing crisis. The project hopes to inspire new creative solutions needed to tame it.
IndieDwell is a B Corp and Good Well Certified Fair, Equitable and Humane Workplace, perfectly aligned with the mission of Chaffee Housing Trust.
Like B Corp, IndieDwell says they exist to “improve the well-being of humanity, to inspire others by creating a socially conscious business model that changes the status quo.” This goes beyond the traditional goal of maximizing shareholder returns, including treating employees as a vital asset.
According to their website, “IndieDwell is a non-profit company committed to creating a safe, inclusive, diverse and fair workplace.”
IndieDwell’s mission is to “revolutionize the construction industry by producing homes that provide better occupant health and well-being, improve environmental health, and empower communities.”
Featured Image: RMS Cranes Team Places IndieDwell Modular Homes at West 3rd and M Streets in Salida. Photo by Merrell Bergin
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Editor Merrell Bergin has lived in Colorado for 51 years, the last 17 of which he has lived in downtown Salida. A retired road warrior, he implemented software for major hospital systems as a consultant, technical writer and instructor. He finally has “free time”, enjoys reading and cooking, is Treasurer of the City of Salida, serves on the Board of Directors of the Chaffee County Community Foundation, and is an active member of the Salida Business Alliance. His last venture was as a business consultant for the Voice of Truth Foundation. As the text editor for Ark Valley Voice, it is his job to ensure that the finished story reflects the author’s voice and ensures accuracy and readability. Sometimes he shoots short films, and sometimes he’s lucky with photography.
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