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www.canyoncourier.com
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OURIE
The mountain area’s newspaper since 1958
est. 1958
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 2, 2023
N VOLUME 64 ISSUE 13
NOW SERVING EVERGREEN, CONIFER, BAILEY AND PINE
75 CENTS
Consolidation efforts moving forward
Our in-depth look at the housing crisis
285 corridor fire departments starting education campaign BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
High home prices, lack of supply sever metro residents from communities Lower- and middle-income people struggle to live where they work BY ROBERT TANN COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
When Chris Laney moved into his new three-bedroom home last summer, he felt like he’d won the lottery. After more than a decade of chasing the cheapest rent across the metro area, the Littleton bartender finally has a house to call his own. “I almost feel guilty that I have it,” said Laney, 49.
Laney is one of a handful of residents who have secured housing through a subsidized program aimed at helping lower- and middle-income people live where they work. But as cities and towns contend with historically high home costs and a lack of supply, SEE PRICES, P17
Three fire departments along the U.S. 285 corridor are moving forward with a communication/education campaign to make sure constituents understand what it means if the departments consolidate. The boards for the Inter-Canyon, Elk Creek and North Fork fire departments, heartened by the results of a survey of constituents that said the majority favored consolidation, have agreed to spend a minimum of $80,000 to consultant Turn Corps to make sure residents — and voters — understand the positives and negatives of consolidation. The cost is being split equally among the three departments, and the price could increase if the fire boards decided to add in mailings to homes. The fire chiefs have been talking for years about whether consolidation would be good for the departments and their constituents. Indian Hills Fire originally was part of the discussions but backed out last year. Assuming they go forward with consolidation, the three fire deSEE CONSOLIDATION, P5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE News briefs Construction
2 RMAE tepees 12 Sheriff’s calls
4 Opinion 14 Winterfest
8 Sports 15 Happenings
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