If you've driven along Highway 40 through Fraser this year, you've probably noticed the framing going up along St. Louis Creek. That's St. Louis Landing, one of the largest workforce housing developments ever attempted in Grand County -- and this summer it picked up a new piece that matters for anyone trying to understand the valley's housing picture: a licensed childcare center. Here's what the project is, when the first homes will be ready, who qualifies to live there, and what a development like this does -- and doesn't -- mean for the broader real estate market.
What is St. Louis Landing?
St. Louis Landing is a planned 220-unit workforce and deed-restricted housing development under construction on an 11.3-acre site in Fraser, built for year-round Grand County employees rather than second-home buyers or short-term renters. The Town of Fraser bought the site -- previously known as Victoria Village -- in May 2022 for $3.8 million with help from a Colorado Division of Housing "Operation Turnkey" grant. The plan mixes apartments, townhomes and single-family homes with a child care center and open space along St. Louis Creek. Once complete, the project is intended to serve households earning roughly 30% to 160% of Grand County's area median income, with about half of all units reserved at or below 120% AMI.
When will the first homes be ready?
Vertical construction on Phase 1's 129 units is underway now, and the town's schedule targets Building C -- the project's first completed building -- along with the new Edna Tucker Way, for this November. That timeline was presented at an April 2026 Fraser Board of Trustees meeting: Building E is projected for March 2027, and Building D for December 2027 pending final financing. The town has also flagged a funding gap -- roughly $2.2 million in federal and state financing was delayed as of this spring, which officials said could add $125,000-$150,000 per month in costs if unresolved. Phase 2, bringing the project to its full 220 units, doesn't yet have a firm timeline. (Sky-Hi News)
Who qualifies to live at St. Louis Landing?
Eligibility is restricted to people who work at least 30 hours a week in Grand County -- remote workers don't qualify, and none of the units can be converted to short-term rentals. Every unit is deed-restricted in perpetuity, with income bands running from 30% to 160% of area median income depending on the unit and building. The goal, echoed by town officials, is to house the workforce that keeps Grand County running: teachers, health care and hospitality staff, town employees and other full-time local workers priced out of the open market.
What's new this summer -- an early childhood education center
On August 2, 2026, the Fraser Board of Trustees approved a commercial lease bringing Grand Kids Learning Center into St. Louis Landing, giving the development its own licensed childcare facility. Under Resolution No. 2026-08-02, the town leased roughly 8,418 square feet of indoor space and 1,700 square feet of adjacent outdoor space at 245 Park Avenue to the Wapiti Child Care Center Parent Organization, which operates Grand Kids Learning Center at other Fraser sites. It matters beyond convenience: when Sen. Michael Bennet toured St. Louis Landing on January 22, 2026, officials and providers specifically flagged childcare availability -- not just housing costs -- as one of the biggest barriers keeping workers in the valley.
What could this mean for Grand County real estate?
A large, income- and employment-restricted development like St. Louis Landing is built to serve the local workforce, not the resale or short-term rental market, so it isn't a direct competitor to the market-rate listings buyers and sellers see day to day. That said, workforce housing supply can still ripple outward: it gives local employers more stability staffing the businesses and services that support the broader community, and over time it can ease some of the pressure long-term workers feel competing for the valley's limited pool of market-rate rentals. St. Louis Landing is one piece of a larger housing-supply story in Grand County that also includes projects like Nuche Village in Granby. For buyers and sellers near Fraser's St. Louis Creek corridor, the new road, sidewalks, bus stop and now a childcare center are also worth factoring in as neighborhood amenities, even though the housing itself isn't for sale on the open market. As always, we'd caution against reading any single development as a signal of where prices are headed -- Grand County's market moves on inventory, rates and demand across the whole county, not one project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is St. Louis Landing?
It's a 220-unit workforce and deed-restricted housing development under construction in Fraser, on the former Victoria Village site along St. Louis Creek, aimed at full-time local employees rather than second-home buyers.
Who can rent or buy a home at St. Louis Landing?
Only people who work at least 30 hours a week in Grand County qualify. Remote workers can't apply, and units can't be converted to short-term rentals -- all homes are deed-restricted in perpetuity.
When will St. Louis Landing be finished?
Phase 1's 129 units are targeted for completion between this November and late 2027 (Building C in November 2026, Building E in March 2027, and Building D in December 2027). The full 220-unit build-out doesn't have a confirmed timeline yet.
Does St. Louis Landing include childcare?
Yes. In August 2026, the Town of Fraser approved a lease bringing Grand Kids Learning Center into the development for a licensed early childhood education center.
How is St. Louis Landing funded?
Funding includes a Colorado Division of Housing "Operation Turnkey" grant, roughly $12.9 million in Proposition 123 equity program funds, an additional $5 million in middle-income tax credits, and town infrastructure funding -- though some federal and state financing has faced delays.
Will St. Louis Landing affect home prices in Grand County?
It's not designed to. Because units are income- and employment-restricted and can't be resold or rented on the open market, St. Louis Landing is meant to add workforce housing capacity rather than compete with market-rate homes for sale.
This article reflects publicly available information as of its publish date and is subject to change as the project's financing and construction schedule evolve. Sources: Town of Fraser, Sky-Hi News.
Curious how workforce and new-construction projects like this one fit into the bigger Grand County real estate picture, or want a personal read on what's happening near a property you own or are considering? I'm always glad to talk it through.
Kind regards,
Chris Pritchett
Mountain Property Specialist / REALTOR®
The Real Estate Company - Mountain Division
Winter Park, Colorado
(970) 426-5500 | trecwp.com
