NEWS: Hwy. 133 to open next week, A9
VOL. 142. NO. 23 | THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023 | $1.00
Lazy K project nears end Final lottery scheduled for July Bella Biondini Times Editor
Two years after the start of construction, the City of Gunnison’s first affordable housing development, Lazy K, is finally starting to look like a real neighborhood. The project, designed to offer housing secuLazy K A6
INSIDE
TODAY
NEWS: CB to CB South trail starts to take shape, A10
Jacob Spetzler
MIRANDO LAS ESTRELLAS: The Gunnison Valley Observatory hosted a Spanish language night on Friday, June 9. After a presentation on the life of stars, which was translated in real time, participants climbed the stairs to look at the night sky through the observatory telescope.
Housing Authority approves draft strategic plan Organization stability is top priority
COMMUNITY: Barry Clifford’s hunt for pirate treasure, B1
Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer
As residents of the Gunnison Valley look down the barrel of high home prices, limited housing stock and dwindling affordable land, public and private SPORTS: Stingrays compete in home meet, B9
OBITUARIES A3-A4 OPINION A4 CLASSIFIEDS A15-A17
entities are working on solutions to create affordable housing for the valley. Leading the fight is the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority, tasked with not only managing deed-restricted units, but being a “one-stop shop” for housing resources. “When we have region-specific problems that need a regionspecific solution, the Housing Authority should be the organization to be the main point of contact,” Housing Authority
Executive Director Andy Kadlec said. Last week, the Housing Authority outlined its priorities for the coming decade in an updated strategic plan. The final draft, which the board approved in its June 8 meeting, breaks down goals into the short, medium and long-term categories. In the next three years, the plan focuses on stabilizing the organization financially and strengthening existing programs. Beyond three years, a
ballot measure to create a funding stream and even Housing Authority-owned housing is on the table. “I was really glad to see that their first thing was to stabilize the organization. That needs to happen, because I think they're needed more now than ever,” Gunnison Real Estate and Rentals Owner Kelly McKinnis said. McKinnis sat on the Housing Authority board for 18 years. Housing A7
Marijuana sales decline locally, statewide Businesses feel pressure from crowded market and falling prices
SPORTS B9
Bella Biondini Times Editor
ONLINE GUNNISONTIMES.COM
Christina Ruiz keeps the shelves of San Juan Strains stocked full with a variety of mar ijuana products, from
multi-flavored edibles and infused sodas, to cartridges, flower and pre-rolls. Her sales took off during COVID, but the rush started to slowly taper off last fall and the downward trend has yet to come to a halt. “It’s kind of a hard hit,” Ruiz said. In Colorado, marijuana tax revenue collected by the state dropped 23% between 2021 and 2022. In May of 2021, marijuana sales totaled $194 million. Last May, they dropped to $148 million — a nearly 24% decrease. Cannabis A6
Cannabis clones grow at San Juan Strains.
Bella Biondini