Episode #14
Who Gets to Live in Salida? Housing, Growth and the Future of a Mountain Town
Who gets to build a life in a Colorado mountain town when housing costs keep rising? In this episode, Ashley Kappel and Jessica Chariton sit down with Wayles Martin, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Salida, general manager of a local restaurant and a Chaffee Housing Trust homeowner. Wayles shares how the community land trust helped her move from unstable renting into homeownership, then brings that lived experience into a wider conversation about workforce housing, area median income, development density, short-term rentals, tourism and the future of Salida. It is a candid look at the tradeoffs mountain towns face when they want to grow without losing the people who make the community work. What you will learn Wayles’s path from renting in Salida to owning a Chaffee Housing Trust home. How the land trust model can lower the cost of homeownership while preserving long-term affordability. Why “affordable housing” is often misunderstood and who workforce housing is actually intended to serve. How rising AMI levels can become disconnected from what local workers actually earn. What the 5H development debate reveals about zoning, density, neighborhood concerns and Salida’s future land-use plans. How short-term rental rules try to balance tourism with year-round neighborhood stability. What role the city should play in housing development and where public-private partnerships may work better. Why SouthArk and other long-term housing projects matter to Salida’s future. Wayles’s biggest concern for Salida: an economy heavily dependent on tourism and sales-tax revenue. Her vision for sustainable growth that remembers the people already living and working in the community. Guest Bio Serving as the Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Salida, Wayles Martin brings workforce representation to the dais. She is a proud owner of a Chaffee Housing Trust unit and the general manager of a local restaurant, giving her a firsthand understanding of both the housing challenges facing the community and the solutions being tested on the ground. Guest Link Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18pm1ubccm/?mibextid=wwXIfr Real Estate in the Rockies is the podcast exploring Colorado mountain real estate, housing, land use, development, zoning, community growth, and mountain living in Salida, Buena Vista, Chaffee County, and communities across the Rockies. Hosted by Colorado real estate attorney Ashley Kappel and local realtor Jessica Chariton, the show brings together developers, community leaders, housing experts, investors, and local voices to break down the conversations shaping mountain towns today. Whether you’re buying property in Colorado, navigating real estate development, exploring affordable housing challenges, or simply interested in the future of mountain communities, Real Estate in the Rockies delivers real conversations and local insight from the people living and working in these communities every day. Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for new episodes every week. Connect with Jessica: https://jessicachariton.homesmartpreferredrealty.com/ Connect with Ashley: https://www.collegiatepeakslawandmediation.com/ Please share this podcast with anyone who is interested in Real Estate development, Community Conversations about living in Colorado Mountain Towns.
