Groundbreaking celebrates new Eagle County office and housing center in Edwards
Groundbreaking celebrates 'county commons' in Edwards
Scott Miller/Vail Daily
Work has already started, but Eagle County officials on Tuesday held a groundbreaking ceremony for a nearly $34 million county government services center in Edwards.
The two-story office building will house space for the Eagle County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, including a new election center, as well as space for the county’s Public Health and Human Services departments. The building will also hold a satellite office for the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office.
The Eagle County Commons in Edwards will feature:
- Space for Eagle County Clerk and Recorder functions including elections and motor vehicle operations.
- Space for Eagle County Human Services and Public Health.
- A satellite office for the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office.
- A total of 20 housing units 鈥� 16 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom units.
In her remarks, Clerk and Recorder Regina O’Brien noted that when she took office nearly 12 years ago, elections were conducted in “our hallways, in our offices and 鈥� maybe even in our kitchen.”
Over the years, election administration has changed, as have the laws governing how elections are conducted.
O’Brien said the new space will allow her office to administer elections efficiently and in compliance with state law.
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“It will serve voters well for many years to come,” she said.
O’Brien added that the new office space will also allow better access for marriage licenses, public records, and other services.
In his remarks, Eagle County Commissioner Matt Scherr noted that putting those services in Edwards will make it easier for residents in the upper valley to access county services.
“This is in the heart of the Eagle Valley,” along the Core Transit bus route and situated between the Mountain Recreation field house and Battle Mountain High School, Scherr said.
In addition to the office functions, the site will also feature 20 rental units for county employees. Those units, in four buildings, will have 16 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments.
Those units have been built by Fading West of Buena Vista, which also built the homes in the Adam’s Way project in Eagle. The units for this project are already built and are awaiting delivery.
Eric Schaefer of Fading West thanked county officials for “taking a chance” in buying the rental units for the project.
“We’re so thrilled to be here today and to be part of (this),” Schaefer said.
Eagle County Housing Director Kim Bell Williams said while the 20 units are just a small number in terms of the overall need in the valley, providing the apartments for employees “is a big deal for us.”
And, she added, the location and proximity to schools and other amenities in Edwards should make those units “super, super popular.”
Work on the project is expected to take about 18 months.
