The Anvil Mountain subdivision was built to support redevelopment of land for affordable housing through rental units and financing opportunities. This initiative was the compilation of San Juan County and EPA’s Brownfield Program.

Funding for the project came from a variety of different sources. San Juan County was able to secure $1.3 million in grants from the EPA, Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Colorado Brownfields Foundation, Colorado Department of Health and Environment, and Colorado Department of Transportation. EPA and the Bureau of Land Management contributed another $300,000 of in-kind assistance. San Juan County contributed over $500,000 to the project.

The site, now known as the Anvil Mountain Subdivision project, once fully built out, will include approximately 50 single family, multi-family and duplex homes to create a wide range of sizes and prices. The project is planned as affordable housing with integrated energy efficient and sustainable design innovations.

Cleanup of the Martha Rose/Walsh Smelter site prevents future releases of contaminants, reduces the use of fossil fuels through efficient green buildings, and creates new open space. The area’s rich mining and rail legacy will be preserved using architecture design similar to mining era buildings in the town, and preserving and interpreting historical elements.

The project included 8 modular sections resulting in 12 apartment units.