An aerial image captures the neighborhood and site of the former Montezuma-Cortez High School, which is located at West Seventh and Chestnut streets in Cortez. A housing development is being proposed by Evergreen Real Estate Group in a public-private partnership with the city of Cortez. About 4.7 acres of the total 14-acre lot is planned for construction. (Courtesy of the city of Cortez)
An aerial image captures the neighborhood and site of the former Montezuma-Cortez High School, which is located at West Seventh and Chestnut streets in Cortez. A housing development is being proposed by Evergreen Real Estate Group in a public-private partnership with the city of Cortez. About 4.7 acres of the total 14-acre lot is planned for construction. (Courtesy of the city of Cortez)

The city of Cortez is hosting a second session to gather public input for Park Village on 7th, an affordable housing development planned across a portion of the 14-acre site of the former Montezuma-Cortez High School.

From 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday Auevelopers Evergreen Real Estate Group will be responding to questions or concerns heard during the previous community input session while attendees will be able to ask additional questions and give more feedback.

The event takes place at Cortez Recreation Center, 425 Roger Smith Avenue.

Evergreen is proposing to transform the old high school school site at West Seventh and South Chestnut streets into Park Village on 7th. The development is envisioned as a 70-unit residential workforce housing complex that can help address Cortez’s housing shortage, one of the city’s more pressing challenges.

The community input and listening session is planned for Thursday at the Cortez Recreation Center, 425 Roger Smith Avenue. (Flyer Courtesy/City of Cortez)
The community input and listening session is planned for Thursday at the Cortez Recreation Center, 425 Roger Smith Avenue. (Flyer Courtesy/City of Cortez)

The development is expected to include a range of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units, with a strong emphasis on family-sized homes, alongside a clubhouse and common areas. Potential tenants would pay reduced rent based on income, which could be between 40% and 80% of the area median income, according to the last input session.

A poster board and images from Evergreen Real Estate Group shown at a public input session June 30 where the residents gave feedback on a housing proposal. Many expressed excitement about the proposal to alleviate a housing need. (Ann Marie Vanderveen/The Journal)
A poster board and images from Evergreen Real Estate Group shown at a public input session June 30 where the residents gave feedback on a housing proposal. Many expressed excitement about the proposal to alleviate a housing need. (Ann Marie Vanderveen/The Journal)

The site also houses park amenities the development intends to leave in place, though expanding the park area depends on funding, according to the city website.

Some comments at the last session June 30 wanted the park and green space to be more accounted for, including for the youth program Cortez Panthers Youth Football, who uses the open lot as a practice field. Some community members arrived to the open house and expressed discontent with the 3-acre reduction in park space.

The agenda for the Aug. 27 session includes an initial presentation from developers, and then city staff and Evergreen staff will take group and individual questions afterward.

According to the city’s website, the development timelines include construction starting in 2027 and leasing beginning in 2028.

awatson@the-journal.com