The first house in what will be a community for hundreds is under construction in Twin Buttes.
When complete, about 655 homes and an additional 135 secondary apartments will be built in the city subdivision along U.S. Highway 160 west. A community center, two schools, a resort hotel and restaurants are part of the development’s plan.
The city approved the subdivision in 2011, and after some restructuring in management, lots went on sale in fall 2016, said Chief Operating Officer Bob Delves.
Interest in the project is high, and it has appealed to builders and individuals alike, he said. He expects some builders might buy and set aside land in Twin Buttes because Durango has limited buildable land available. But that’s not the developers’ goal.
“Ideally, we would like to see houses built on everything because the community needs homes,” he said.
It’s one of a number of growing subdivisions, such as Three Springs east of town and the Edgemont area northeast of town.
Despite a flurry of construction in some areas of La Plata County, developers are not keeping up with the housing demand, as proved by an average home price of $415,063 in March.
About 790 new homes or apartments across La Plata County may be needed each year until 2035 if the population continues to grow at about 2 percent, according to a study released in 2015 by the Regional Housing Authority.
There are 49 lots in the first phase of Twin Buttes, and 13 have sold or are under contract, Delves said. Lot prices in the subdivision range from $140,000 to $225,000.
The Durango Area Association of Realtors predicted in its first quarter report that more people may become interested in land as it becomes harder to find homes in or around Durango.
But the development expects to have a mix of property types and prices when it’s built out.
Duplexes are planned for three lots in phase one, and two more lots are eligible for duplex construction, Delves said. More multifamily construction, including apartments, are planned in future phases, he said.
However, before residents can move into Twin Buttes, the highly visible construction on U.S. Highway 160 near the entrance to the subdivision must be finished. Delves expects contractors will finish the turning and acceleration lanes and retaining wall by the end of June, before any homes are completed.
A traffic signal will be installed at the entrance as part of the construction, and the Colorado Department of Transportation will decide when to activate the light, he said.
Durango School District 9-R expects to build an elementary school on a 2.5-acre site in the subdivision as the area grows. But it doesn’t have any immediate plans to start construction, said spokeswoman Julie Popp.
The board of Animas High School will re-evaluate its plans to build in Twin Buttes this summer as part of a larger strategic planning process, said Head of School Sean Woytek.
The 3-acre site in Twin Buttes is the school’s “plan A,” he said. But the board will evaluate student demographics and the population growth in Durango as part of the site-selection process.
“Our next move is probably going to be our final move, ideally. We don’t want to move every four or five years,” he said.
The school has not started a formal capital campaign for a new building, but it does have some anonymous commitments to help pay for the building, he said.
Land on the western side of the subdivision is set aside for commercial development, such as a boutique hotel and shops.
The hotel may be a resort-style attraction, potentially with a spa and workout facility, designed to attract visitors for a few days.
“I think we can create something here that doesn’t exist in Durango,” Delves said.
The hotel could support shops and restaurants that would be within walking distance for residents.
Construction on a hotel within the subdivision is not likely to start for a few years, but Delves expects it would draw people in because it will have a scenic setting and it won’t be on or near a highway.
The development may have up to 115,000 square feet of commercial space.
The subdivision was designed with sustainable principles in mind, and the new management team respects that vision, Delves said.
The farm-to-table model is built into Twin Buttes, where 6 acres are cultivated and the 70 varieties of produce are sold to restaurants, natural food stores, nonprofit community organizations and through a community-supported agriculture program.
The farm is meant to be a perk for residents, and they may receive special access or prices when they buy produce from the farm, but that has not been determined, Delves said.
Members of the community supported agriculture program receive weekly boxes with leafy greens, eggs, honey, flower bouquets, goat cheese and other bulk produce.
The farm started selling produce about five years ago and operated while the development was dormant. The metro-district, which will eventually be funded by property taxes, is expected to continue to employ professional farmers as the neighborhood develops, Delves said.
“Our preference is to continue to have good-looking gardens that are professionally managed,” he said.
In addition to the farm, the subdivision also preserved the cleared timbers and soil for builders to use and prospective homeowners have expressed interest in the timber, he said.
“Every tree and every rock has been harvested and saved,” he said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
Twin Buttes by the numbers
775 acres of open space
46 acres dedicated to Twin Buttes farm and livestock
7.5 acres of parks
12 miles of trails
25,000 square feet for community space, potentially a community center
115,000 square feet of community space
