Habitat Vail Valley welcomes 16 new homeowners to Eagle
Over the past few years, the number of for-sale homes decreased, prices escalated, and the affordable housing crisis deepened. Vital members of our community — educators, law enforcement officers, tradespeople — could no longer afford to live here. The fabric of our community was changing before our very eyes.
In 2022, Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley set the aspirational goal to double our impact — building 46 homeownership opportunities in a three-year period. Just over a year ago the organization broke ground for 16 modular homes in partnership with Fading West Building Systems. On Thursday, August 15, sixteen new homeowners will celebrate the strong foundations that come from affordable homeownership. These individuals helped build their houses and are able to stay in Eagle County because of the stability these homes provide.
“Building our Habitat house means many things to my children and to me. It means hope for a better future and a new beginning. It means having a home that is not only loving, but also stable and secure. The motivation of knowing that everything can be achieved is the limit. You are the designated driver of your own future, and this is just one of many more goals my children and I are going to achieve,” shares one homeowner who helped build her home, and the homes of her neighbors — helping build community.
This new neighborhood is built on partnerships. Eagle County School District donated the land adjacent to Eagle Valley Middle School; 12 of the 16 homeowners work in the school district. Eagle County and the State of Colorado each contributed significant funding. This development is all electric and Habitat received a Community Energy Systems grant from Holy Cross Electric as well as technical support. The Town of Eagle facilitated a grant to fund infrastructure.
“Our Board saw the need for housing increase significantly. They showed tremendous courage and leadership to take on this modular pilot to answer the call of how to do more faster. This modular pilot took 1/3 the time and was incremental to our site-built product,” says Emily Peyton, the project manager and Habitat’s director of special projects
The development, just off Third Street on Adam’s Way in Eagle, was named for Adam Palmer — a dreamer, believer, doer and husband of Habitat’s long-time director, Kalie Palmer. Through naming it in recognition of Adam, we honor his legacy on this community.
“We’re not done yet. Let’s keep believing and dreaming big,” Peyton adds.
We invite you to be part of the home dedication celebration and tour the new homes, Thursday, August 15 at 4 p.m.
If you go:
Thursday, August 15 at 4 p.m.
Home Dedication and House Tour