Aspen City Council approves $2 million toward Cavern Springs mobile home park purchase
The contribution will support a resident-ownership model
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Aspen City Council approved a contribution of $2 million toward the purchase of the Cavern Springs mobile home park in Glenwood Springs on Monday for a resident-ownership model.
This decision follows approval in June 2025 to provide $3.2 million toward the purchase of the Aspen Basalt and Mountain Valley mobile home parks, preserving 139 total units. Cavern Springs mobile home park has reported 42% of its working residents are employed in Aspen, as previously reported by The Aspen Times.
Cavern Springs provides 98 homes to 300 residents in unincorporated Garfield County, with a purchase price of $23 million for the land under the homes, agreed to by the seller. The current average rent, according to the agenda item summary submitted to council before the meeting, is $1,025 per month.
“Housing continues to be a critical issue here in Aspen and the entire valley, and that’s why I think we should definitely support his moving forward,” Council Member John Doyle said.
Mayor Rachael Richards also supported the contribution, in favor of preserving and maintaining a housing option for workforce that is already in existence instead of putting the money toward new construction elsewhere in the valley.
“I am supportive as well,” Richards said. “Having worked with affordable housing issues for a very long time … you cannot build your way out.”
Council Member Christine Benedetti also spoke in favor of the contribution.
Council Member Bill Guth was the only council member who spoke against the contribution, noting that the precedent set by contributing to mobile home park purchases outside of the city could extend expectations beyond just those park purchases.
“I’m not supportive of this,” Guth said. “I don’t think it’s the most responsible and highest yield return on our community’s housing dollars … What happens next? I don’t feel good about supporting this.”
Richards noted that the city is participating in the funding at a “no-risk level,” meaning if the other funding falls through, Aspen will not be responsible for providing contributions.
Original reporting from aspentimes.com
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