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In this edition:

• Affordable Housing

• Snow Update on the Mesa

• Alzheimer Cookie Walk

• New Food Spot in Hotchkiss

Housing

Market Stats:

Average Sales Price: $463,932 (-$4,641 from last week)

Median Sales Price: $400,000 (no change from last week)

Inventory Levels:

Number of New Listings: 68 (+14 from last week) 

Average Days on Market: 90 (-1 from last week)

Total Active Listings: 556 (+8 from last week)

_{Source: Skyler Kraai with Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties}

News

Grand Junction Affordable Housing Development

The City of Grand Junction announced the purchase of a plot of land located near 28 Road and Grand Avenue.

The land cost upwards of $3M and was bought through a mixture of grants and city money.

The city plans to build affordable housing on the land, with a focus on households making under $100K a year and a direct focus on households making less than $56K a year, according to a press release.

Community members had strong opinions on those numbers and argued that those salary numbers don’t reflect a median income for Grand Junction.

“There’s no such thing as affordable housing in Grand Junction,” said one Facebook user on our previous story regarding the city’s plans for the Salt Flats project.

The city says they’ve done extensive research on Average Median Income, or AMI.

“We have an acute need for families under that amount and that is who were hoping to build and develop for. So, if they’re worried ‘What if I make under that?,’ that’s you; you are who we’re talking about developing for,” said Ashley Chambers, housing manager for the City of Grand Junction.

Residents said the city has promised affordable housing before and has not followed through in the past. The city says this is a new venture for them

“We have never built affordable housing as a city ever. We are not even building this housing. We are just laying the groundwork for affordable housing to be built,” said Chambers.

Community members were also concerned about possible radiation exposure and alkaline on the land due to previous usage. The city says not to worry.

“We did a lot of additional testing of soils, and we did radiation testing, and all of them came back in our favor,” said Chambers.

Snow Update on the Mesa

As snowstorms ravage through Colorado, it’s no better time than to look at how much snow has fallen on area ski slopes during the 2024-25 season.

As of Thursday, Powderhorn Resort has seen a total of 128 inches of snow since the slopes opened on Nov. 22, 2024. The ski resort had 7 inches fall in the last 24 hours.

Other resorts have seen more snow like Copper Mountain Resort in Summit County which is the snowiest resort in the state, accumulating 208 inches.

Business Highlight

Bin 707 moves and Jojo’s Dinette Opens

Bin 707 Foodbar’s space at the base of the Alpine Bank Tower in downtown Grand Junction has become Jojo’s Dinette, a southwestern-inspired regional cuisine boasting “low intervention wines and lots of agave.”

Jojo’s Dinette seats on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations accepted. The restaurant is open 11:30 a.m. through 8 p.m. from Monday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. through 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It is not open on Sundays.

Jojo’s Dinette’s menu includes cocktails, appetizers like sunchoke hushpuppies and steamed mussels, salads, sandwiches (or “sandos”) such as crabcake sando and the Bin Burger, and dinners such as cioppino, pork katsu and steak frites.

The restaurant will remain owned by Bin 707 and Tacoparty Owner and Chef Josh Niernberg, who plans on opening Bin 707 in its new location at 400 Main Street in the coming weeks. Bin 707’s new space previously housed il Bistro Italiano.

Local Community

Grand Junction care center hosts cookie walk to raise money for Alzheimer’s Walk

The Aspen Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center hosted its “Valentine’s Day Cookie Walk” on February 12.

According to Ivone Rodriguez, Community Resource Director for Aspen Ridge, the event’s goal was to attract customers to the facility, raise awareness, and raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

“It’s a good way for seniors to connect,” said Rodriguez

The center began raising money for this year’s event in January and has already made over $1000.

Western Slope Sports!

Junior Hockey League expansion team coming to Grand Junction 2025

Hockey continues to grow and thrive in the Grand Valley.

Starting this fall, the action and excitement of the National Collegiate Development Conference, the highest level of the United States Premiere Hockey League, a Tier II junior hockey league, will be in Grand Junction at River City Sportplex.

They will be named the Grand Junction River Hawks.

Exciting Events: February

This section only includes local upcoming events. Feel free to submit yours!

Sports

• Western Region Basketball Tournament

  • Saturday, February 15
    8:30 am – 6:00 pm

  • Location: Colorado Mesa University
    1100 North Avenue
    Grand Junction, CO 81501

  • Special Olympics Colorado is hosting the Western Region Basketball Tournament at Colorado Mesa University! Traditional Play, Unified Play and All Star Skills Challenge will be played.

• Grand Valley Racing League #3

  • 48338 Powderhorn Rd Mesa, CO 81643

  • Grand Valley Racing League is hosting the third weekend of races! The Grand Valley Race League is a business-oriented event that is all about having fun in a low pressure environment. We will set up a dual slalom type course and will set up race gates. Racing runs from 1-3pm. Awards around 3:30-4:30 pm upstairs over in the Slopeside.

Family Fun

• 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

  Dates: Feb 28th at 7pm

              March 1st 2pm & 7pm

              March 2nd 2pm

  Location: The Art Center of Western Colorado 1803 N 7th Street GJ, CO

  Tickets: Adults $30

                Students/Seniors $25

                Available at: 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — Theatre Project of Grand Junction

• Power + Love Lifestyle Christian

• Black History Month Activities

Date Night 🎆

• Montrose Farmers' Market - Winter Market

  • 99 S Uncompahgre Ave, Montrose, CO 81401

  • Dates: 3/1/2025, 3/15/2025, 3/29/2025, 4/12/2025, 4/26/2025

  • Location: Centennial Plaza

  • Time: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

  • Price: Free

• Events at Endless Pastabilities in Montrose!

  • Wednesday 2/12 - Galentine's Day! 1/2 Price wine for ladies all day. Craft your own handmade Valentine 5:30-7:30. Register in advance.

  • Friday 2/14 - Romantic Piano with Lane Anderson 4-6pm; Live Music with Angela Perry 6-8pm; Valentine's Menu Specials all day!

  • Saturday 2/15 - Karaoke 7:30-Midnight

  • Friday 2/21 - S.H.H. Trio Live Jazz, Blues, & Pop 6-8pm

  • Saturday 2/22 - Karaoke 7:30-Midnight

  • Friday 2/28 - OPEN Mic Night 7pm

  • Saturday 3/1 - Karaoke 7:30-Midnight

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