Project Updates
On September 14th and 15th, 2023, a community design workshop was held at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. Building upon the Sketch Plan approval, the workshop set out to refine the project vision and guiding principles into actionable parameters for development of the Preliminary Plan. Livability was a key discussion, with activities focused on both defining indoor and outdoor livability and considering quantifiable standards that will physically enable livable spaces at Whetstone. A second workshop goal was to discuss trade-offs between project values to understand expectations related to streets, trail connections, architectural design, and green building practices.
Participants represented a diverse set of values that were insightful and influential in drafting the neighborhood plan updates. Some of the values that have translated into the plan changes include enhancements to accessibility, both indoors and outdoors; programmable multi-use spaces; private patios and gardens; parking and snow storage management practices; and unit floor plans favoring functional storage space. Plan updates are outlined in detail below.
Thanks to the input from the workshop, the team has developed changes to the Neighborhood Plan that refine the concept from Sketch Plan. What has changed:
What has remained the same:
The following graphic illustrates these changes and the focus on livability in Whetstone, which centers on affordability, stability, and sense of community.
Participants represented a diverse set of values that were insightful and influential in drafting the neighborhood plan updates. Some of the values that have translated into the plan changes include enhancements to accessibility, both indoors and outdoors; programmable multi-use spaces; private patios and gardens; parking and snow storage management practices; and unit floor plans favoring functional storage space. Plan updates are outlined in detail below.
Thanks to the input from the workshop, the team has developed changes to the Neighborhood Plan that refine the concept from Sketch Plan. What has changed:
- Slight increase in unit count from 231 to 255
- Addition of sufficient space for a multipurpose turf area within the community park, programmable for youth sports
- Refinement of snow storage locations for better maintenance and management
- Refinement of street widths, parking, and sidewalk locations
- Reduction in the number of buildings in the center of the site
- Increase in parking spaces to account for increase in unit count
- Building elimination at the southern end of the site to increase maintenance and management areas for the community
- Addition of community space and leasing office adjacent to park area
What has remained the same:
- Central park at the heart of the community
- Commitment to connecting to regional transportation networks
- Planning for access via round-about and pedestrian underpass
- Overall site circulation pattern
- Perimeter trail
- Triplexes and live-work buildings along the west and east sides of the site
- Landscaped berms along the Highway 135 frontage
The following graphic illustrates these changes and the focus on livability in Whetstone, which centers on affordability, stability, and sense of community.
The ProjectThe project was launched by Gunnison County in 2019 when it purchased the 13-acre Whetstone parcel, located just south of the Town of Crested Butte, with the intent of developing an affordable and workforce housing neighborhood for local community members.
Over the past years, the team led by Trestle Strategy Group and Williford LLC conducted extensive outreach and technical exploration to create the Sketch Plan that was approved. As the name implies, Sketch Plan is just the beginning. |
Community EngagementCreating a successful development strategy involves a solid understanding of the community’s needs and interests, as well as the technical characteristics of the site and development finances. Throughout the project, community members and stakeholders have been invited to share their perspective with the project team through a robust engagement process. Click below to learn about it.
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Project Team
The project team of consultants is led by Trestle Strategy Group and Williford, LLC, and has expertise in housing developments, community engagement, architecture, engineering, financing.
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Whetstone Community Housing | 2022 |