In June, the City of Durango issued a Request for Qualifications to identify a development partner for the Rivergate workforce housing project. Proposals were reviewed through a competitive evaluation process, including follow-up interviews with applicants.

The Evaluation Committee ultimately selected Southwest Community Partners as development partner, and a Notice of Intent to Award was issued. The City and Southwest Community Partners have executed a Predevelopment MOU that establishes the framework for a public-private partnership to develop the Rivergate workforce housing project. It defines each party’s predevelopment responsibilities, outlines anticipated fee waivers and affordability commitments, and sets the basis for a future Development Agreement that will govern the project’s construction and final terms.

The City of Durango and Southwest Community Partners are completing site feasibility studies, including a geotechnical investigation and a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, to better understand the property’s soil conditions, environmental history, and overall suitability for development. Other assessments, including a traffic study, market study, and topographic study, will be conducted as well to inform site planning, infrastructure design, and the overall project approach before moving into detailed design and permitting.

City staff is continuing to explore opportunities to acquire Lot 5 in order to leverage the property for deeper affordability within the development.

The City of Durango owns Lot 4 of the Rivergate Planned Development, a 1.665-acre parcel located between Rivergate Lane, Rivergate Place, and Sawmill Road. Originally platted in 2003, the Rivergate area was envisioned as a mixed-use neighborhood combining residential, commercial, and medical uses alongside amenities such as the Animas River Trail. Lot 4 sits adjacent to the Rivergate Lofts and Animas Surgical Hospital and is zoned “Planned Development,” permitting a range of residential and complementary commercial uses. Together, Lot 4 and the adjacent privately-owned Lot 5 allow up to 71 dwelling units at a maximum density of 19 units per acre.

In November 2024, City Council approved using unspent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to acquire Lot 4 for future affordable housing. The purchase closed in December 2024, aligning with the City’s Strategic Plan goals of expanding affordable housing opportunities, fostering mixed-income and multigenerational communities, and making productive use of underutilized City asset. In June 2025, the City issued a Request for Qualifications seeking an experienced development partner to deliver a creative, cost-effective project on the site. The City intends to donate Lot 4 to the selected partner, contingent on performance milestones, and may also support efforts to incorporate Lot 5 for a larger-scale project that maximizes community benefit