A Colorado school district has acquired a 35-unit development with plans to convert the apartments into affordable housing for teachers and staff.
According to officials, the $10 million purchase by the Durango School District R-9 (DSD) represents one of the largest single acquisitions of workforce housing by a Colorado school district to date.
Trailbreak Partners, a Denver-based commercial real estate investment and development firm, reported completing the sale of Lightner Creek Apartments in Durango.
Before approaching Trailbreak, school officials reportedly explored purchasing multiple single-family homes at a much higher cost.
“Our staff—from homeroom teachers to bus drivers—have faced long commutes or even weighed leaving Durango altogether,” said Chris Coleman, chief operations officer at DSD. “Dedicated, attainable housing is the gap we need to fill so they can live, work, and build their lives here. We were glad to work with Trailbreak Partners to offer a home base for our community’s hardworking educators and keep them connected to the families they support.”
Trailbreak acquired the property in 2021, recognizing the opportunity in Durango’s high-barrier market where essential workers face limited rental options.
“Mountain markets like Durango can come with real challenges, from limited supply to high construction costs, and essential workers struggling to find housing options,” said Doug Elenowitz, co-founder and principal at Trailbreak Partners. “We’re boots on the ground in these communities. We understand those dynamics and market fundamentals firsthand. This transaction gave us the chance to turn our market insight and a high-impact investment strategy into a mission-aligned opportunity for working families. This is what we mean when we say our goal is to ‘do well and do good.’”
Lightner Creek Apartments includes 10 studios, 13 one-, and 12 two-bedroom units.
In November 2024, Durango voters overwhelmingly passed the Investing in Our Schools Bond, which allocated $20 million for employee housing. DSD leaders say this purchase is the first major step toward delivering on that commitment.
More than 200 district staff members reported in a 2025 survey that the high cost of housing is one of their greatest stressors and a significant barrier to recruiting and retaining quality employees. With the Lightner Creek Apartments purchase, the district will begin offering affordable rental options to a portion of its workforce, with the goal of having units ready by fall 2026 or sooner.
According to the DSD website, rents will be set below market levels but are not finalized yet. Early estimates suggest studios may range from $700 to $800 per month. The district will form an advisory committee to recommend rental rates, eligibility, and prioritization criteria.