Housing projects have been increasing along Colorado’s I-70 mountain corridor, bringing new inventory into the Denver-area mountains.
According to the Denver Post, the building inspection department of Summit County, which encompasses many of the new communities, issued a record high 852 permits in 2017, representing $244.5 million in projects. The department performed 11,889 inspections through September 2017, and has already completed more than 12,100 this year.
The goal of many developers is to provide second homes and primary residences that are more affordable than homes in resort areas like Vail and Breckenridge. The developments are expected to boost local business, but some are concerned that an increase in population will bring damaging traffic and pollution to the mountain area.
Much like the growth seen along the Front Range during the ongoing economic expansion, the work going on in Summit County today will change the faces of local communities for generations to come. In Silverthorne in particular, development themes similar to those playing out in metro Denver are being embraced: specifically, more density and an emphasis on walk-ability.