Denver Commemorates Affordable, All-Electric Housing Groundbreaking
Published on May 29, 2024
Mayor Mike Johnston together with Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) and partners today celebrated the groundbreaking of The Irving at Mile High Vista, an affordable rental project in the West Colfax neighborhood. Located at 3270 W. Colfax Ave., the apartment community will offer 102 units ranging from studios to three bedrooms, restricted to households earning 20 to 80 percent of area median income (AMI). HOST provided a $4,080,000 loan for the project.
The building will also utilize a $100,000 grant from Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency to facilitate all-electric design and heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling to support a cleaner, more sustainable environment. Other climate-friendly features include a rooftop solar array, energy efficient appliances and lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, water efficient landscaping, and electric vehicle charging stations.
“Affordable housing is not just about providing shelter; it's about creating a Denver where the people who serve, work and live in this city have a fair chance to thrive,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “The Irving represents our city and partners’ dedication and commitment to creating inclusive neighborhoods where residents of all backgrounds can call home.”
The project also utilizes affordable housing financing from Prop 123, which was approved by voters in 2022. The Irving is being developed by Urban Land Conservancy (ULC), which purchased the two-acre site where the Denver Public Library’s Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Branch and Del Norte’s affordable Avondale Apartments are located today. The Irving is the third and final parcel at Mile High Vista to be developed.
“The Irving is the culmination of the community’s long-term vision for Mile High Vista, a mixed-use development that offers affordable housing and library services,” said Sarah Harman, senior vice president of real estate at ULC. “Because of the ongoing displacement of longtime residents in the West Colfax neighborhood, we believe it’s more important than ever to deliver affordable housing here.”
The building was designed by Studio Completiva and will be built by Pinkard Construction. Construction is beginning now and is expected to be complete by mid-2025. Other public financing partners on the project include the Colorado Housing & Finance Authority and the Colorado Division of Housing.
The Irving at Mile High Vista is the latest city-supported affordable housing development to take shape in Denver. A total of 2,211 affordable units that have received city financing are currently under construction/preservation at 25 sites throughout Denver. An additional 416 income-restricted units are in the planning stage. Learn more about this inventory at the Denver Affordable Housing Dashboard.