Guest opinion: Edwards River Park will be built for locals
Guest opinion
Courtesy photo
For more than three decades, I’ve been a frequent visitor to the Vail Valley creating cherished family memories. As a real estate developer with a passion for building student and affordable housing, I’ve become acutely aware of two pressing issues facing this community: the need for attainably-priced homes for year-round residents, and the need for more early child care education facilities so that young professionals and families who are members of the critical workforce and who want to put down roots in the Vail Valley aren’t leaving the area they love.
Through conversations with locals and business owners and vast due diligence, I assembled a team determined to bring Edwards River Park to fruition.
Edwards River Park received initial approvals from Eagle County in 2021. Aptitude Development, of which I’m a partner, is under contract to purchase the development. As approved, the new neighborhood to be located on the un-reclaimed former gravel mining pit and adjacent to the Eagle River Preserve, will bring 440 homes to the community, with 270 having deed restrictions.
The most important components of the approved Edwards River Park will stay intact, with a few revisions to the planned unit development needed to reflect new enhancements currently under review by Eagle County:
- Expanded daycare: The required daycare center will be expanded from 2,500 square feet to 10,000, plus 2,500 square feet of outdoor space. We are excited to have recently announced that we have an agreement to provide a new home for the Family Learning Center, currently located just down U.S. Highway 6. Family Learning Center serves 100 families, most of them living in Edwards and working in the upper valley. We are proposing to convey the approved 10,000 square feet of commercial to Family Learning Center for a $1/year lease because the community cannot afford to lose this vital asset, and with the great success of nearby Riverwalk at Edwards, there are ample commercial opportunities in the area already and not needed within our project. This conversion in use will also result in 10% less traffic volume.
- Wetland protection: Instead of a single long boardwalk, multiple piers will extend from the trails into the wetlands at various points, offering educational experiences for pedestrians while reducing the impact on the delicate ecosystem. The property, adjacent to the Eagle River Preserve, will feature walking trails connecting to this natural treasure.
- Optimized layout: The proposed amendments to the planned unit development focus on improving site layout and consolidating parking, creating more practical amenities for residents without affecting the project’s density, deed restrictions or attainability components. The revised planned unit development also incorporates updated ground elevations and while it shifts some of the buildings around from initial locations, no building will be more than 35 feet above Highway 6 which was a key component of the initial approval.
- Community amenities: The project will include a dog park, a clubhouse and ample storage facilities for resident use. Lockers will be located near the new bus stop for skis, bikes and other equipment, and areas will be provided to clean bikes. These amenities aren’t just conveniences, they’re essential features that support the outdoor quality of life for our workforce.
While I have only been involved in this project for two years, I recognize that this has been a tremendous and outstanding effort by many stakeholders, governmental staff, and a local development team for many years prior. This development is about retaining and strengthening the greater community with attainable homes plus a new home for the Family Learning Center.
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