Southface Vail Construction Underway 

The Town of Vail broke ground on its locals-only housing apartment complex in June 2025. The total project cost is $189 million and is the first of its kind funding structure in Colorado. The development is centrally located, with convenient access to Vail Village, Lionshead and the West Vail commercial area on Vail’s free public transit system. Vertical construction began in March, and the development is expected to be completed in September 2028.

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Background

In 2017, the Vail Town Council adopted a plan to acquire 1,000 additional deed restricted housing units by 2027 and eventually solidified the plan in its Five-Year Strategic Plan. The council's focus is to diversify housing and ensure Vail's workforce has housing opportunities. In 2018, the council funded a site feasibility study on the town-owned parcel on the north side of I-70 between Middle Creek apartment complex and Red Sandstone Elementary School.

In June 2025, the town hosted a groundbreaking ceremony and asked community members to help name the new development. The chosen moniker: Southface Vail.

Project Overview

A remarkable parcel, the site of Southface Vaill has a slope exceeding 40%. The topography posed some design challenges, but it also presented the opportunity to create a landmark development. The final design features apartment buildings on top of a retaining wall above the road with knock-out views.

Southface Vail is three distinct residential buildings, each four stories, built over two stories of podium garage parking. The 268-unit workforce housing development has 84 studios, 100 one-bedrooms, 84 two-bedrooms and 257 parking spaces. The complex also includes amenities such as outdoor spaces, a fitness center, a clubhouse, co-working areas and a dedicated bus stop. 

The development is deed-restricted, requiring that every rental home be occupied as a primary residence by at least one full-time employee of an Eagle County business.