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.

Overview & Vision

We listened closely and designed West Thorn as a direct response to what the community told us it needs.

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.

New Housing Units

500

sq. ft. of Community Spaces

13k

Acres of Open Space

4.7

Types of Housing

22

Acres of Community Agriculture

1+

Greenhouses

5+

sq. ft. of Community Gear Storage

2.4K

Locally Operated Coffeeshop and Bakery

1

Ice Skating Pond

1

Community Daycare

1

ft of Irrigation Ditches

2K

Locals Participated in Public Survey

436

The Guiding Principles of our Plan

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.

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.

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.

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 and direct access to local food.

Project Partners & Team

  • LOCAL EMPLOYERS

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • MOUNTAIN ROOTS

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

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. This project is a reflection of the deep rooted respect Jeff and his family hold for how this valley has shaped their lives and a commitment to keeping that unique sense of community alive for future generations.

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

  • Open Space

  • Community Agriculture

  • Daycare

  • Pet Friendly

  • Co-Working Space

  • Gear Storage

  • Local Bakery & Café

  • 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 Move-In
Complete
Winter — Spring
Community Listening & Research
Conversations with local employers, families, and community members to understand the housing crisis and identify what Gunnison Valley needs most.
Complete
Spring — Summer
Site Planning & Master Design
Developed the 25-acre master plan featuring 500 housing units, community agriculture, open space, and gathering areas designed around walkability.
Complete
Fall
Community Outreach Events
Hosted public forums at the Elks Club, Rec Center, Library, and Jorgensen Ice Rink — collecting 436 community votes and counting.
Complete
Spring
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
Summer — Fall
Preliminary Plat & PUD Submittals
Formal entitlement applications now underway, including the Planned Unit Development and preliminary plat filings with city and county authorities.
Upcoming
Fall — Winter
Partner & Employer Commitments
Finalizing partnerships with local employers and organizations to support workforce housing allocations and community amenity programming.
Upcoming
Spring
Final Approvals & Permitting
Secure final city and county approvals, complete infrastructure engineering, and obtain building permits to begin construction.
Upcoming
Summer
Construction Begins
Breaking ground on infrastructure, roads, utilities, and the first phase of housing units — built with sustainable materials designed to last 100+ years in alpine conditions.
Upcoming
Fall
Community Agriculture Launch
In partnership with Mountain Roots and Gunnison Gardens, begin developing the 1+ acre community agriculture spaces, greenhouses, and garden infrastructure.
Upcoming
2027
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
2027 — 2028
Amenity Spaces Open
Coffeeshop & bakery, co-working space, daycare, community barn, gear storage, and gathering spaces come to life as the village grows.
Upcoming
Onward
A Model for Mountain Communities
West Thorn aims to inspire a new era of attainable housing in resort communities across the country, proving that thoughtful development and community can go hand in hand.
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.