Affordable housing — or lack thereof — has the Aspen Historical Society looking to split its lot to build employee housing and generate additional revenue.
The Aspen Daily News reports the society filed an application requesting permission to rezone part of its property, including the historical Wheeler-Stallard mansion, which was built in the 1880s by an early investor in the city's silver mines, in favor of a duplex for employees. The remaining land would be converted to transferable development rights lots, which the society wrote would be sold for additional funding.
The application cites a lack of affordable housing in Aspen, especially in the historical neighborhood, which creates a challenge when hiring and maintaining employees and interns.
In 2005 the historical society made a similar request which was denied.
