Aspen Commits $2 Million to Glenwood Springs Mobile Home Park

Aspen City Council is committing $2 million toward the purchase of the Cavern Springs mobile home park in Glenwood Springs. This decision comes after a similar approval in June 2025 to provide $3.2 million for the purchase of the Aspen Basalt and Mountain Valley mobile home parks, which preserved 139 units. The mobile home park is home to 300 residents in 98 units, with 42% of its working residents employed in Aspen. The purchase price for the land under the homes is $23 million, and the current average rent is $1,025 per month. Council Member John Doyle says, "Housing continues to be a critical issue here in Aspen and the entire valley, and that’s why I think we should definitely support his moving forward." Mayor Rachael Richards also supports the contribution, favoring the preservation of existing housing options over new construction. "I am supportive as well," Richards says. "Having worked with affordable housing issues for a very long time … you cannot build your way out." Council Member Christine Benedetti shares similar sentiments, speaking in favor of the contribution. Not everyone on the council agrees, though. Council Member Bill Guth is the sole dissenting voice, citing concerns about the precedent this sets for future funding expectations. "I’m not supportive of this," Guth says. "I don’t think it’s the most responsible and highest yield return on our community’s housing dollars … What happens next? I don’t feel good about supporting this." Richards counters that the city's participation is at a "no-risk level," meaning Aspen won't be on the hook if other funding falls through. Picture this: 300 residents, many of whom work in Aspen, facing uncertainty about their housing situation. That's what's at stake here. The city's $2 million contribution is a significant step toward preserving affordable housing options in the valley. Here's the thing, though: this isn't just about Aspen. The ripple effects of this decision will be felt throughout the region. For folks around here, the question is: how will this impact the broader housing market? And that matters because the valley's housing situation is already strained. Preserving existing options is crucial, but it's not a long-term solution. The city needs to think about sustainable, forward-looking strategies to address the housing crisis. This mobile home park purchase is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. As the city moves forward with this plan, locals will be watching to see how it all plays out. In the parking lot of the Cavern Springs mobile home park, the sounds of daily life fill the air - children playing, dogs barking, the hum of cars driving by. It's a community, and it's one that the city is trying to preserve. For now, the future of this community is a little more secure, thanks to the city's $2 million contribution. The residents will be waiting to see what's next.