The Pine River Commons townhome development is on track to wrap up construction a bit later this year after a slight setback.
The project, located at 2107 Bayfield Parkway, broke ground in October 2023, and construction was initially scheduled to be done by this summer. Water line installations and water hydrant evaluations were a bit behind schedule, said Charlie Albert of Bayfield Haga LLC.
Now that Upper Pine River Fire Protection District gave Pine River Commons the OK to resume construction, the project is expected to wrap up by mid-September.
“They require that the fire system be active before they can pour any concrete,” Albert said. “… We need fire protection while we’re pouring concrete.”
Shortly after construction ends, Albert said five townhomes on the southeast side of the development will be ready for sale. In all, there will be 66 deed-restricted townhomes, targeting homebuyers earning 120% area median income.
Albert said he waited at least two weeks to get the OK on the hydrants to start pouring concrete. He also said the fire department had to check the hydrants to ensure they’re free of contaminants or flammable material.
Upper Pine River Fire Chief Bruce Evans said the town of Bayfield requires a high- and low-level chlorine test and a bacteria test via a third-party laboratory, in which Pine River Commons passed both tests with “flying colors.”
“Moving right along,” he said.
Greg French, deputy chief with the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District, confirmed the department gave Pine River Commons the green light to proceed with construction.
French said the hydrants must be established in locations where a water supply apparatus can make a connection to them, and they must be no more than 400 feet apart from of each other in order to be up to code with the fire department. Both boxes were checked off for Pine River Commons, French said.
Albert said the development had to wait until the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District turned on the water for the hydrants before concrete can be poured.
“It’s just part of the process,” Albert said.
mhollinshead@durangoherald.com
