Sharon Morlock, Office of Peggy Wolfe

March 08 Highlights for Steamboat Springs and Routt County Colorado

• The overall Average Transaction Price was up to $687,037 for March 2008 compared to $645,077 from March of 2007
• The overall Median Transaction Price was up to $432,500 for March 2008 compared to $350,000 from March 2007.
• Year-To-Date for Residential Improved Units - Price Point Summary the following Price Points have remained strong compared to the same period for 2007;

•1. $800,001 to $900,000 Sold for 2007 - 10 compared to 9 for the same period through March 2008

•2. $900,001 to $1,000,000 Sold for 2007 - 4 compared to 5 for the same period through March 2008

•3. $1,000,001 to $1,500,000 Sold for 2007 - 13 compared to 16 for the same period through March 2008

•4. $1,500,001 to $2,000,000 Sold for 2007 - 9 compared to 8 for the same period through March 2008

•5. $2,000,001 to $2,500,000 Sold for 2007 - 6 compared to 4 for the same period through March 2008

Total Dollar Volume was $52,278,700* compared to $141,794,800 for March 2007.

The Total Units Sold was 89 compared to 242 for March 2007.

*Of special note regarding the above Total Dollar Volume: There was one Transaction in Steamboat Mountain area for: $9,019,900 for Building 3 of the Village at Steamboat which sold to Worldmark Club.

Please note that this information is provided by Bruce Carta - Land Title Guarantee Company and Land Title data comes from actual recorded transactions at the County Clerk and Recorder's Office. The information is not directly related to MLS data. We believe this information to be accurate, but notguaranteed.

The Steamboat Springs Planning Commission voted, 4-1, to recommend approval of Elk River Village.

The approval came in spite of the the difficulty of pedestrian, bicycle and mass transit connections to the site on the north side of U.S. Highway 40, but pointed out the fact that the Yampa River Core Trail is less than a mile away via Curve Plaza on the south side of the highway, a good connections to the city's network of pedestrian and bicycle paths.

Yes the ski area closed on Sunday April 6th, but there are plenty of good reasons to come to Steamboat.

Here's a few events happening in Steamboat this weekend April 11th - 13th:

Friday, April 11th

• The Family Development Center's Annual Island Casino Night Fundraiser is from 7:30 to 11:00 PM at the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel. Features casino-style gaming with a poker tournament, cash bar, silent auction and appetizers. Admission is $40.00 at the door or $30.00 in advance - and includes $300.00 in gambling chips. Benefits the Newborn Network, Child Care Netwrok and the Discovery Learning Center.

Saturday, April 12th

• Steve Boynton to 7 PM at Chaps in the Steamboat Grand and Resort Hotel. This is a FREE event and it's for all ages.

Sunday, April 13th

• The Sixth Annual North Routt Chili Cook-Off starts at 3:00 PM at Tuffy's Roadhouse (formerly the White Bison on Routt County Road 129). Entries must be in by 1:30 PM. Judging starts at 2:00 PM. Admission is $10.00 per adult and kids under 5 are FREE, Maximum per family cost is $40.00. Call the Clark Store to enter or buy tickets.
• An African Night fundraiser for the Humanitarian, Education and Leadership Projects in Rural Zambia (HELPRZ) Club is at 4 p.m. at the Steamboat Springs Community Center. There will be a silent auction featuring African and locally made products, refreshments, entertainment and a slideshow presentation from Lennae Jenkins about the new Chimfunshi School. Admission is free.

The Yampa Valley Housing Authority is seeking approval from the city of Steamboat Springs tonight for at least 34 deed restricted affordable housing units. Elk River Village could be built on just over 10 acres along Routt County Road 129 with the potential of 54 multifamily condos in four 12 unit buildings, one six unit building and an additional 13 single family lots for 900 square foot homes with the option to add decks, car ports and second levels.

Although Elk River Village is currently zoned for commercial uses, the developer will show the planning commission how this project will benefit the public and that it satisfies the requirements of 6 acres of open space and the minimum of 34 deed restricted units. Elk River Village also meets other goals; it's within a large number of employers in the area and walking distance to bus stops.

The number of deed restricted affordable units depends on the success of the Housing Authority putting together a finance package for the project. Depending on financing and construction costs, their goal is to have all units deed restricted. If everything proceeds in a positive direction, work could begin as soon as late summer early fall, structures ordered next winter and available for purchase in the summer of 2009.

Climbing Wall In Steamboat Springs Middle School

Lots of fundraising and planning by Steamboat Springs Middle School (SSMS) outdoor education program Everything Outdoor Steamboat finally replaced the old climbing wall (a plywood structure built in 1994) and unveiled a new climbing wall. The realistic climbing wall, includes many tricky formations and an overhang, is more than 30 feet above ground in the schools main entrance and constructed of a steel structure with scraped concrete. It's outfitted with 3 auto-belay systems that suspend ropes from the top of the wall to allow students to safely climb without needing belaying on the ground. Students are lowered slowly to the ground through tension on the ropes when they fall, thus no mechanical failure which meets insurance requirements for the structure and eliminates accidents. This allows more kids to get use of the new climbing wall and learn climbing techniques.

The school looks forward to showing-off the new wall during an open house in the next couple weeks then possibly opening the wall to the public a couple nights a week with a small cost. Additional funding is still needed for a floor covering at the base of the wall and a 4^th belay system.