Infrastructure work should begin in June as what was once a large hayfield west of downtown Hayden is expected to become the $70 million Prairie Run deed-restricted mixed housing project.

“We are trying to be proactive and create perpetually deed-restricted housing in Hayden before other development removes that opportunity in town,” said Kimball Crangle, Colorado market president for project developer Gorman & Co. for the past 10 years.

Gorman developed Sunlight Crossing for the Yampa Valley Housing Authority on the north side of Steamboat Springs; however, Hayden residents emphasized the desire for Prairie Run to blend in with the small-town character of the town. So, this large first phrase of Prairie Run with up to 135 units will feature a mixture of rental two-story apartments, townhomes and live-work units.

Prairie Run will be closer in design to previous Gorman projects such as Wintergreen in Keystone, Vista Verde in Breckenridge or Smith Ranch in Silverthorne, but the Hayden project will not exceed two stories in height, Crangle said.

“The neighborhood is in keeping with the town’s character, meaning smaller buildings, one- and two-story buildings, a mix of types including apartments, townhomes and live-work, and a lot of open spaces adjacent to a park,” said Crangle, who formerly served as senior developer at the Denver Housing Authority for six years.

Gorman scheduled two community open house events last May and September to discuss the proposed project with residents. Hayden Town Council reviewed and approved the final plat for the subdivision on Feb. 1. The overall development site at 1300 W. Jefferson Ave. including a town park is 23 acres west of downtown and west of the existing Wagner Equipment property on the south side of U.S. Highway 40.

The project will be served by Hayden city water and designed for all-electric power. The all-rental housing will be restricted to people earning 80% to 160% of average median income.

Hayden Town Manager Mathew Mendisco said the town’s housing authority chose to partner with Gorman because the company is “one of the best affordable housing developers in the state in terms of building in the mountains.” He said the town will retain the right of first refusal for units to house public service employees working within the Hayden School District boundaries such as municipal employees, teachers, library workers or firefighters.

Mendisco said a past housing study in Hayden showed the 81639 zip code needed up to 450 additional workforce housing unit within the next five years.

“People know we need housing, and I think they want to ensure that is something that will fit within the Hayden community that looks appropriate and carries with it a Hayden feel,” Mendisco said. “Gorman took that seriously. This will feel like a really great neighborhood, is the bottom line.”

Mendisco said infrastructure work also is planned to start in June for a 2.3-acre town park and skateboard park adjacent to Prairie Run on land donated by Gorman. He said the skateboard park called Northwest Colorado Skate Dream is planned for completion by the end of this year. More information about the project is available at Facebook.com/NorthwestColoradoSkateDream.

The town manager said Hayden secured a total of $10.8 million in funding toward the infrastructure and construction work for the workforce housing development including $200,000 from Routt County, a $8.6 million Transformational Affordable Housing grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and a $2 million DOLA More Housing Now grant awarded in March.

Gorman will build and manage the project. Crangle said the method for rental applications is not yet determined, but the company has used a mix of methods in the past from lottery to first come, first served. Crangle said Gorman will open a website for occupant interest three months before completion, which is expected in two years in mid-2026.