A Transformative Village shaped by Community

A thoughtfully planned mix of homes, local services, and community spaces.

GUNNISON, COLORADO

With the lack of housing for locals growing each year, we set out to build a neighborhood that meets the needs of those living and working here. The Gunnison Valley is a special place full of character, play, and people that genuinely care for each other. It’s a small town way of life that is hard to describe unless you’ve lived it and we hope this project helps to preserve that essence while being the start of a bigger answer to the housing dilemma at large.

Map showing a grid-like layout of a city with water bodies and a river on the left side. There is a highlighted area labeled 'W T' marking the area for future development.
Aerial view of Gunnison, Colorado with a grid street pattern, surrounded by hills and natural landscape, featuring roads, buildings, and open spaces.

Overview & Vision

We listened closely and designed West Thorn as a direct response to the needs of the Gunnison community.

Our plans resulted in welcoming pets, integrating walkability within the neighborhood, bus stops to get to and from Crested Butte, garden space in partnership with Mountain Roots and Sue Wyman, gear storage, open space, indoor event space for community gatherings, and long-term leasing and ownership opportunities for individuals, families, and employers.

A sketch of a house with a steep roof, a chimney, and a porch, set in the mountain landscape

450 New Homes for the Gunnison Valley

A Place to Live

Diverse Housing Types: Townhomes, Multiplexes, Apartments, and Single Family Homes

A Place Rooted in the Land

Plentiful Open space
Mountain Roots HQ, Farm, Orchard, and Greenhouse

A Place to Gather

Locally operated coffeeshop & bakery
Ice skating pond in the winter
Community gear storage, daycare, and barn

A Place Built by Community

436 locals participated in public outreach
community input continues to shape the future of West Thorn.

A modern community center with a glass facade, surrounded by greenery and trees, with people walking, cycling, and cars parked nearby on a sunny day.

Join Us for CommunitySite Walks this Summer

See our proposal and share your input. No sign up necessary, Just show up at the corner of Thornton Way and West Gunnison Avenue on the NE corner of the neighborhood.

June 10th: 11am–1pm & 4pm–6pm
June 23rd: 11am–1pm & 4pm–6pm
July 28th: 11am–1pm & 4pm–6pm
Aug 4th: 11am–1pm & 4pm–6pm

Get Updates from the West Thorn Team

The Guiding Principles of our Plan

People working together in a vegetable garden, smiling and planting plants during daytime.

BUILD A CONNECTED COMMUNITY

Above all, we're building a neighborhood here residents of all backgrounds can put down roots without the seasonal scramble for housing. Walkable streets and public spaces tie into downtown, schools, and transit, making it easy to live here year round.

A wooden barn with a yellow trim and a large sliding barn door, under a clear blue sky with a visible moon.

MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE & RESILIENT

After decades of living in the Valley, we understand the materials you build with will prove themselves over time. We have made a deliberate choice to build these apartments and homes to last a century or more, using sustainable materials that hold up in the alpine conditions and preserving the natural landscape.

Aerial view of a green valley surrounded by mountains with winding roads and scattered houses.

COLLABORATE WITH THE LOCAL VISION

This project isn't possible without input and dialogue from as many people as possible. Our goal is for West Thorn to feel like a collaborative community effort that provides high quality, accessible housing across a range of income levels, and that's built to sustain the Valley's community for generations to come.

Two women working in a lush green farm, one holding fresh produce and the other reading a sheet, with a fence and rolling hills in the background.

THE LOCAL AGRIHOOD

A Village Designed around Food, Land, and Working Together

Food has a way of connecting people, supporting local farmers and engaging the youth within the community. We are building West Thorn as an “agrihood” in collaboration with Mountain Roots and Sue Wyman. This includes space for growing food and gathering built directly into the plans as a cornerstone of the area. Residents will have the opportunity to tend to the gardens, direct access to local food, and education around food systems.

A hand-drawn sketch of a landscape with buildings, trees, and a pathway, with some sections labeled.
A digitally illustrated aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with numerous houses, a park with trees and walking paths, and rolling hills in the distance under a blue sky with a few clouds.

Garden and Community Gathering Space Plans

Project Partners & Team

  • Aerial view of a small town with streets, buildings, trees, and mountains in the background on a sunny day.

    LOCAL EMPLOYERS

    Businesses across Gunnison Valley are supporting this project as a way to attract and retain employees. By participating in West Thorn, employers are creating a more resilient workforce and contributing to the long-term local economy.

  • A cityscape view of Gunnison, Colorado at dusk with dark cloudy skies and mountain range in the background.

    CITY OF GUNNISON

    Gunnison has a rich history of ranching, agriculture, mining, tourism and outdoor recreation. We are partnering with the city to connect West Thorn to the greater community.

  • Scenic landscape with trees, river, and mountains under a partly cloudy sky, with a logo for Gunnison River Partnership

    GUNNISON RIVER PARTNERSHIP

    As the only Venture Capital group located in the Gunnison Valley, we work to energize and strengthen the overall economic vitality of the region by either growing existing businesses; supporting startup founders; or attracting promising businesses.

  • A landscape of green hills and farmland at sunset with the words "Mountain Roots" in white, stylized text.

    MOUNTAIN ROOTS

    Mountain Roots cultivates a resilient food system in Gunnison Valley, Colorado, by enhancing healthy connections between earth, food, and community.

  • Night view of a cityscape with a tall brick clock tower and colorful flowers in the foreground, with the words 'Urban Villages' partially visible over the image.

    URBAN VILLAGES

    Urban Villages is a team of entrepreneurs, environmentalists, artists, developers, builders, and investors. They look to the past to understand enduring principles and apply those insights to create progressive and intentional spaces for the benefit of community.

  • A rural farm scene with greenhouses, a white van, garden beds, trees, mountains in the background, and a logo with mountain and leaf graphics labeled 'Gunnison Gardens' in the foreground.

    GUNNISON GARDENS

    Susan Wyman founded Gunnison Gardens in 2014 to fulfill her vision of growing delicious, nutritious, and affordable food for her community. Gunnison Gardens grows cold-hardy vegetables, fruits, poultry, and eggs without the use of artificial chemicals, herbicides, or pesticides. Sue believes that local food production is key to creating a resilient and secure future in the Valley.

Jeff on Mount Crested Butte, Circa 1976

Two people skiing down Crested Butte Mountain in the 1970s surrounded by tall pine trees.

THE WEST THORN TEAM

Jeff Hermanson’s Legacy Project, Decades in the Making

Over the past 50 years, Jeff Hermanson has lived, built businesses, and raised his family here in the Valley.

He arrived in Crested Butte in 1973 and never left. From his early days at Penelope's to opening The Slogar and The Artichoke, owning Soupçon for a few years, his restaurants became fixtures of CB life. Alongside that, he developed some of the Valley's earliest condo projects and spent a decade on the board of the CB Land Trust, including three years as president.

He founded the Crested Butte Wine and Food Festival, which he gifted to the Center for the Arts, where it remains a fixture of the summer calendar. Most recently, he has brought new life to several landmark downtown buildings, including The Hideout and two twelve.

An architectural sketch of a residential development with multiple buildings, surrounded by trees and landscaping.

Inspiring a New Era of Attainable Housing

Resort communities across the country are facing the same reality: the people who make these places thrive can no longer afford to stay.

West Thorn began with conversations and evolved into a blueprint. Through open forums and ongoing outreach, we invited broad participation in the planning process. Over time, we heard consistent themes from employers, families, longtime residents, and members of the seasonal workforce who support the valley. Housing has become harder to find, harder to afford, and harder to maintain over the long term. West Thorn exists to make long-term living in these places feasible.

Project Amenities

  • An aerial view of a winding river flowing through a lush green valley with dense trees and hilly terrain.

    Open Space

  • A woman and a young girl in a garden picking fresh vegetables, with the girl holding a tomato and the woman reaching for greens in a basket.

    Community Agriculture

  • Slightly out-of-focus classroom with a line of wooden benches filled with colorful backpacks, yellow walls, and large windows in the background letting in natural light.

    Daycare

  • Close-up of a playful Bernese Mountain Dog with wet fur and snow falling in the background.

    Pet Friendly

  • Modern industrial office lounge with exposed piping, brick walls, large windows, a coffee corner, and seating including a red sofa and black chairs.

    Co-Working Space

  • Multiple colorful kayaks in yellow, orange, blue, and green stacked horizontally on a rack, with a textured black surface underneath.

    Gear Storage

  • A cozy cafe interior with a brick wall, hanging Edison-style light bulbs, a wooden shelf with cups and a glass globe, a yellow bar stool, a dining table with yellow chairs, and a pair of skis mounted on the wall.

    Local Bakery & Café

  • A house with a wooden exterior and a steep gable roof, illuminated by sunlight, under a clear blue sky with visible moon.

    Community Barn with Gathering Spaces

West Thorn — Project Timeline
Building a Village

Project Timeline

Community input remains an important part of this process, and updates will be shared as plans progress. Follow along on our project progress and join us in person at a community outreach event.

Planning Approvals Construction 2028
Complete
Sketch Plan Submittal
Submitted initial sketch plans to the City of Gunnison for review, reflecting community input on housing types, density, and neighborhood design.
In Progress
Preliminary Plat & PUD Submittals
Formal entitlement applications now underway, including the Planned Unit Development and preliminary plat filings with city and county authorities.
Upcoming
Partner & Employer Participation
Working with local employers and organizations to support workforce housing and community amenity programming.
Upcoming
Final Approvals & Permitting
Secure final city and county approvals, complete infrastructure engineering, and obtain building permits to begin construction.
Upcoming
Infrastructure & Site Preparation
Grading, utility installation, road layout, and site preparation to ready the 25-acre property for vertical construction.
Upcoming
Construction Begins
Breaking ground on infrastructure, roads, utilities, and the first phase of housing units.
Upcoming
Community Agriculture Launch
In partnership with Mountain Roots and Gunnison Gardens, begin developing the community agriculture spaces, greenhouses, and garden infrastructure.
Upcoming
Vertical Construction & Buildout
Housing units take shape across the first phase of the neighborhood, with framing, interiors, and landscaping progressing through the year.
Upcoming
First Units Delivered
The first residents move into West Thorn — beginning a new chapter for attainable housing in Gunnison Valley and welcoming community to the neighborhood.
Upcoming
Move-In Starts
Families, workforce members, and community residents begin settling into their new homes as West Thorn becomes a living, thriving neighborhood.
Upcoming
Amenity Spaces Open
Coffeeshop & bakery, co-working space, daycare, community barn, gear storage, and gathering spaces come to life as the village grows.
Complete
In Progress
Upcoming

Shaping the Plan with Community Input

436 members of the community shared their input through our public survey

This approach helps shape everything in our plan from housing types to shared amenities. Your voices are the foundation of what West Thorn is becoming and we want to continue to hear from you.

COMPLETE THE SURVEY
Illustration of a suburban neighborhood with houses, trees, and winding roads, with mountains and a small river in the background.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes. Fox Tuttle Transportation Group conducted a traffic study for West Thorn, which has been submitted to the City of Gunnison as part of the development application. We know traffic is one of the top concerns neighbors have shared with us. The study is grounded in real data, including adjustments to reflect peak summer counts, and we'll continue to share what we learn as the City's review process moves forward.

    The study analyzed eight intersections near the site across four time periods: existing conditions, Phase 1 completion in 2028, full buildout in 2030, and long-term conditions in 2050.

    The key finding: West Thorn's traffic can be accommodated by the existing road network with modest improvements. The primary recommendation is re-striping the intersection of 8th Street and W New York Avenue to add a dedicated southbound turn lane. In the long-term 2050 scenario, signal timing adjustments at the US 50 and W New York Street intersection would address a westbound movement that degrades at that horizon.

    Two intersections on US Highway 50 — at Bidwell Avenue and Gold Basin Road — show poor operations in the study. Both already operate poorly today, before West Thorn exists, and both are identified in CDOT's existing Access Control Plan for future signalization. West Thorn does not create those problems; they are pre-existing issues that CDOT and the City are already tracking.

    FAQ-IMAGE

  • The City recognizes that potential improvements may be needed to address existing safety concerns by residents and to better align the W New York Ave, W Gunnison Ave and Thornton Way Right of Ways.  Additional review by City staff will guide whether some combination of additional signage, sidewalk realignment and/or roadway improvements might be needed, and the timing for such upgrades to the existing intersection. 

    FAQ-IMAGE

  • Turning movements have considered buses as well as emergency vehicles.

  • Yes. Traffic counts were collected in late April 2025 and adjusted using CDOT seasonal data to reflect peak summer conditions — the most demanding scenario for the study area. The analysis was conducted by Fox Tuttle Transportation Group following the City of Gunnison's traffic impact study standards.

TRAFFIC

PARKING

  • All required parking for the new development of West Thorn is provided on-site within the newly developed areas, in addition to providing over 150 new public parking spaces along Gunnison Ave and Thornton Way (that are not required to accommodate the new development at West Thorn). 605 parking spaces are included in the development, of which 364 are on street and241 are off street. This is 100 more spaces than is required by the City code. The actual demand for parking will vary depending on the mix of unit types and tenant make-up (seasonal versus full-time residents). Based on existing data with other mixed-income projects in the Valley, we anticipate a blended demand of around  1 car per bedroom.

  • Residents with trailers, boats, or RVs should be aware that City of Gunnison parking regulations — which apply throughout the city, including West Thorn — limit recreational vehicles and trailers under 18 feet to 48 hours of on-street parking in any seven-day period. Trailers 18 feet or longer may not park on streets in residential zones. West Thorn will comply with all applicable City parking regulations. We are exploring the potential to accommodate a limited number of RVs and trailers in designated overflow parking locations.

  • Yes, EV Charging will be provided per Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code which, at minimum, requires 5% EV charging equipped parking stalls as of date of occupancy and up to 30% provided at some level of “EV Ready”.

HOUSING MIX

  • Single-Family Homes (12 Units): For-sale residences featuring high-efficiency envelopes + systems, attached garages, and optimized solar access.

    Townhomes (25 Units): Efficient, attached for-sale units that maximize vertical density while preserving individual ground-floor entries and private outdoor space.

    Accessory Dwelling Units / ADUs (84 Units): Dispersed density integrated throughout the community. These highly efficient rental units provide critical workforce housing and dynamic neighborhood scaling.

    Multi-Plex Buildings (224 Units): The core of the "missing middle" rental portfolio, designed as 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12-plex structures that integrate into the residential streetscape.

    Multi-Family Buildings (72 Units with 20 Barndo units listed separately below): Higher-density rental structures consolidating workforce and family housing near the community's primary civic and transit nodes.

    The Barndo (20 Units): A unique, architecturally distinct multi-family building expressing the site's agricultural "Grange" aesthetic through durable, agrarian-inspired forms and materials.

  • We firmly believe that for-sale homes are essential to making West Thorn a vibrant community for long-term residents, and we plan for the project to incorporate for-sale homes.

  • No building will be taller than three stories and will comply with City standards to ensure solar access for neighboring properties. The tallest buildings (three stories) are generally placed inward from the edges of the development to ensure views and solar access for adjacent neighbors.

SITE DESIGN & ENVIRONMENT

  • Several stands of cottonwood trees on the north end of the site are planned to be preserved and incorporated into the site design.

  • The buffers will incorporate landscape character and vegetation that reflect the local and adjacent context to create a buffer and seamless transition between the new neighborhood and existing neighborhoods. The plantings will provide multiple benefits, including visual screening, wind protection, and year-round seasonal interest.

  • According to the most recent analysis by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, using the 2025 Gunnison County Wildlife Planning Support Tool, the West Thorn parcel is in an area of “lower scoring habitat quality with varied degrees of human disturbance.” The parcel is entirely surrounded by development. Wildlife experts from Colorado Parks and Wildlife have emphasized that development within city limits and that is surrounded by existing development is preferable over development in further outlying areas. Development within city limits reduces impacts on wildlife and helps to alleviate pressure on wildlife habitat and corridors outside of the city.

  • Yes, only dark sky compliant exterior lighting will be installed.

  • No. Aligning with dark sky compliant fixtures, all exterior fixtures will be selected with cutoffs and shielding to ensure glare and light shed are at a minimum.

  • Yes, the amenities of West Thorn are intended for the entirety of the Gunnison Community.

SAFETY & INFRASTRUCTURE

  • The City will plow the public right-of-way. The City and the developer will establish an agreement for the maintenance and plowing of the private right-of-way areas. This will be done during the development review process.

  • There are multiple fire and emergency access routes to the site. The emergency access plan shows both the east and west routes that loop through the site. All emergency access will be from West Gunnison Ave or Thornton Way.

  • Situated in a semi-arid, high desert environment, West Thorn establishes a site-specific resiliency standard that integrates landscape, architecture, and engineering to maximize passive survivability and energy efficiency.  To achieve this, the project focuses on decentralized & potential geothermal energy - the project is exploring per-parcel ground-source geothermal systems as a potential energy strategy. . Energy efficient building systems and appliances will also contribute to the project's ambitious sustainability goals.

TRANSIT & CONNECTIVITY

  • Yes, an area near the community barn has been reserved for a future bus/shuttle stop along with a cafe in the community barn that will allow transit users to see when the bus arrives in inclement weather. In conversations with RTA Board members, we understand that the RTA is in discussions about the possibility of a Gunnison circulator bus.

  • Yes, the site will connect to existing sidewalks, the multi-use trail that connects to the Lazy K park and will connect to the existing city street grid.

SITE PLAN & ALTERNATIVE SITE

  • Some early site walk attendees noted that the site plan appeared to show W. San Juan Ave. and Hartland Ave. extending east of Thornton Way — portions of those streets are not part of this development and would only be constructed by others in the future, if at all. The site plan will be updated to more accurately reflect what is proposed.

  • Gunnison County has not expressed interest in relocating the current Fairgrounds complex to the West Thorn site. The existing Fairgrounds provide a unique and important community amenity and the County has not expressed interest in changing the current Fairgrounds location.

DAYCARE

  • We recognize the critical need for reliable childcare in the Gunnison Valley. West Thorn includes a dedicated parcel for a childcare facility. We are currently meeting with the Gunnison-Hinsdale Early Childhood Council to better understand the operational and financial realities facing childcare providers before reaching out to potential operators. We want to ensure that any childcare facility at West Thorn has a realistic path to being viable and sustainable, not just a space that sits empty. 

OUTREACH

  • We've worked to reach neighbors directly: hand-delivered postcards to homes along Tomichi, Gunnison Ave, 3rd St, and 5th St, mailed postcards to every property owner within 500 feet of the project, placed ads in the newspapers, shared updates on our website and through an e-newsletter, and outreach through community events at the Elks Club, the Rec Center, the library, and the ice rink. Additionally, we’ve held 8 site walks that were open to the general public. We're gathering feedback through this website's survey and at each site walk. If you didn't receive a notice and would like to, please reach out at info@westthorngunnison.com.