The opening phase of construction on Bayfield’s new Mustang Crossing subdivision is expected to be complete in the coming months.
Jeff Jorgenson, Mustang Crossing project developer, said the only thing left to do for Phase 1A, which entails building 19 lots, is to add the curb and gutter as well as the asphalt for the road. The latter must wait until spring to begin that process because it cannot be done during the winter months. The asphalt supply is expected to arrive in either April or May, and that opening phase should be completed by or before June 1, he said.
Units for those 19 lots would be built shortly after.
The subdivision is expected to bring 81 single-family homes to Bayfield east of the Mesa Meadows subdivision.
“Right now, we need all types of housing,” Bayfield Community Development Director Nicol Killian said. “We need market rate, we need deed-restricted affordable (housing), we need some apartments ... we need it all.”
She said building the infrastructure for that opening phase is ongoing, and building permits have yet to be issued.
Once Phase 1A is completed, lots for Phases 1B and 1C will get underway.
“That’s roughly half the acreage we’ve got out there. So, roughly 50 acres would be developed,” Jorgenson said, adding Phases 1B and 1C would feature about 28 combined lots.
Killian said installation of the town’s future second stoplight, meant to help alleviate pressure near the intersection of County Road 501 and U.S. Highway 160, is still a little ways away from being installed because the town is waiting to find out if it will receive federal money. Even so, she sees how it will benefit Mustang Crossing.
The new stoplight will be about a mile north of Mustang Crossing, and Killian said it will provide a safe access point going between the subdivision and the highway.
The time frame for when Phases 1B and 1C will be done is unknown. Jorgenson said it will depend on how quickly Phase 1A wraps up, as well as interest costs and inflation.
“I don’t know what the market will bear,” he said. “We’re going to find out very shortly. I know there’s not a lot of inventory in the Bayfield area, so that’s positive for me. But with inflation, just the cost of asphalt, the cost of all construction things … it’s just gone up so much.”
Aside from market rate and single-family housing, Killian said she also hopes Mustang Crossing will appeal to Bayfield-area residents who want to move from the Forest Lakes area, those who simply want to live closer to downtown, or may have growing families and want to upsize.
mhollinshead@durangoherald.com
