The city of Cortez recently announced the release of a request for qualifications for a potential housing development on 7 acres of the old Montezuma-Cortez High School site, as a way of “reaffirming its commitment to meeting the community’s pressing housing needs.”
The exact location of the site is on West Seventh Street, between Chestnut and Oak Streets.
Though the original plan was to develop the 14-acre site into a park with a small area designated for housing, the plan was changed, with the city citing “a pressing need for housing.” Now, seven acres of the site will be designated for housing. The remaining 7 acres on the west side of the property will still be developed into a park in the future.
The city has invited developers, builders and collaborative teams to submit their qualifications to plan, design, construct and manage the housing that will sit on the 7 acres.
“This site is poised to become a vibrant new residential neighborhood designed to address the growing need for affordable and workforce housing in Cortez,” the city said.
The city is poised to welcome a “range of development proposals,” specifically proposals that prioritize affordable housing.
In May of 2023, the city completed a housing needs assessment, and one of the key takeaways of this assessment was the need for more housing to keep up with “current and future” employment needs.
The housing needs assessment went on to note that “between 75 and 175 new housing units are needed in Cortez to help fill unfilled jobs,” and “an additional 140 to 240 housing units are needed to keep up with estimated job growth over the next 5 years.”
The need for more affordable and workforce housing was also noted, with the assessment showing a “dramatic price increase” in both the rental and for sale housing markets.
“We remain committed to creating both housing and recreation opportunities for Cortez residents,” Lisa Bloomquist, city of Cortez housing coordinator, said.
Those interested in bidding must submit their qualifications through the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System by Tuesday, May 6. Site tours will be offered in April.
More information and the RFQ (available to download), can be found online at www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado.
