Happy New Year! I want to share with you an update on the old hospital site. In 2022, the Hospital Board approved a goal to explore options and partnerships to develop housing on the old site. This goal was accomplished early this month. MRH finalized an agreement to transfer this property to the City of Craig’s Housing Authority. The city is working to secure millions of dollars of grant funding to complete the horizontal developments (everything under the ground) to help defray some of the upfront development costs. If the grant monies are successfully secured, work can begin immediately on installing infrastructure.

The proposed project for this property is four 5-plexes (20 units total). The units will be 2 or 3 bedrooms and will have carports for parking. The development will be income-restricted, affordable (not low-income) housing, which means they will rent or sell at restricted prices. Their appreciation will also be restricted, which will help them remain more affordable. If the project stays on schedule, it is possible that one of the 5-plexes will be complete before the end of 2023. In the coming weeks, the City will be holding a community meeting to share with interested residents information about the proposed development.

I want to extend my thanks to our partners at the City of Craig for the steps they are taking to actively pursue funding to build housing. I am confident that what the City is proposing will make an impact on our housing needs.