Denver Community Planning and Development is partnering with the Office of Housing Stability (HOST) to find ways to encourage construction of affordable and mixed-income housing, particularly in transit-rich areas. City planners will work with community members and an advisory committee composed of residents, affordable housing advocates, City Council members, local housing builders, and others to create a citywide incentive program through updates to the Denver Zoning Code (DZC) and Denver Revised Municipal Code (DRMC).
The project is part of CPD's efforts to fulfill the Comprehensive Plan 2040's vision for an equitable, connected and healthy city and to put into place Blueprint Denver recommendations addressing the community's strong desire for more affordable housing options.
The first phase of the citywide affordable housing zoning incentive project focused on evaluating and learning from the 38th and Blake RTD Station Area pilot project, among other projects and best practices from peer cities.
In the 38th and Blake pilot specifically, the city tested an incentive approach for achieving more affordable housing. The incentive was established in 2018 and was evaluated in early 2020.
Lessons learned from both the drawbacks and positive outcomes of the pilot:
The full evaluation can be read in the Project Background Report (PDF), which also includes additional housing policy information and peer city research – all of which is helping inform and shape the creation of a citywide zoning incentive.
The draft Interim Alternatives Report builds on the background report by outlining the work done so far, recommended alternatives, and initial evaluation of incentive systems. It also includes information on recent market outcomes, and how the Blueprint Denver equity concepts will inform the incentive system.
Download the Interim Alternatives Report (PDF)
Community outreach will be part of every phase of the project.
Phase 1: Review of best practices and existing programs in Denver and other cities. |
Phase 2: Evaluation of potential approaches |
Phase 3: Selection of final approach and release of strategy report |
Phase 4: Drafting of changes to the zoning and municipal codes |
Phase 5: Review by Planning Board and City Council |
FOCUS GROUP: Affordable Housing Developers
3-4:30 p.m., Thursday May 14, 2020
Virtual Meeting Via WebEx
FOCUS GROUP: Business Improvement Districts
4-5:30 p.m., Tuesday May 19, 2020
Virtual Meeting Via WebEx
Webinar: How Development Works
4:30-5:30 p.m., August 25
Virtual event via Zoom
Have you ever wondered what goes into the real estate development process? This one hour webinar is intended to provide attendees with a baseline understanding of the development process, from land acquisition to construction and key milestones between. We will also dive into the financial considerations that are used to determine if a project is feasible. The presentation will last about 45 minutes allowing 15 minutes for Q&A.
2020
Check back for information on future events.
Throughout the project, city planners will work with an advisory committee representing a multitude of perspectives and constituencies to develop recommended changes to the Denver Zoning Code and the Denver Revised Municipal Code. All meetings are open to the public. Meeting information will be posted here ahead of time, and materials and summaries will be shared after the fact.
Name | Role/affiliation | Company/Organization |
Jessie Adkins |
Multi-family or mixed-use architect |
Shears Adkins Rockmore |
Paul Books |
For-profit housing developer |
Palisade Partners |
Caroline Carolan |
Community |
Denver East Neighborhoods First |
Erin Clark |
Planning Board |
Planning Board Member, ULC |
Jessica Dominguez |
Community |
West Colfax RNO |
Rhys Duggan |
Commercial developer |
Revesco Properties |
Dorit Fisher |
Commercial real estate |
Shames-Makovsky |
Tracy Huggins |
Denver Urban Renewal Authority |
Director |
Robin Kniech |
City Council |
At-Large |
David Jaudes |
For-profit housing developer |
McWhinney |
Shelly Marquez |
Housing finance |
Wells Fargo |
Gete Mekonnen |
Non-profit affordable housing developer |
Northeast Denver Housing Center |
Nola Miguel |
Community |
Globeville, Elyria-Swansea Coalition Organizing for Health and Housing Justice |
Susan Powers |
For-profit affordable housing developer |
Urban Ventures |
Jennie Rogers |
Housing finance |
Enterprise Community Partners |
Amanda Sandoval |
City Council |
District 1 |
Ean Tafoya |
Community |
Denver Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation, Colorado Latino Coalition |
Molly Urbina |
Policy and planning |
Urbina Strategies |
Sherri Way |
Community |
West Wash Park Neighborhood Association |
Advisory Committee Meeting 1
3-6 p.m., Tuesday, February 25
Webb Municipal Building, Room 4.G.2.
201 W. Colfax Ave., Denver
Agenda (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)
Advisory Committee Meeting 2
3-6 p.m., Tuesday, March 24
Virtual meeting via Zoom
Agenda (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)
Advisory Committee Meeting 3A - Equity Focus
8-9:30 a.m., June 18, virtual meeting
Virtual meeting via Zoom
Agenda (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)
Advisory Committee Meeting 3B - Market Assumptions Focus
4-5:30 p.m., June 18, virtual meeting
Agenda (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)
Summary (PDF)
Advisory Committee Meeting #4A
5-7 p.m., September 1, virtual meeting
Agenda (PDF)
Advisory Committee Meeting #4B
4-6 p.m., September 15
Agenda (PDF)
Analiese Hock
Principal City Planner
analiese.hock@denvergov.org