More affordable homes are rising in Boulder as Flatirons Habitat for Humanity continues construction on a new set of duplexes, part of the city’s ongoing push to expand attainable housing options for its workforce and long-time residents. Cranes could be seen operating on Monday as crews worked steadily on the latest phase of the project.
This new construction is the result of a collaboration between Flatirons Habitat and the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD), which has played a direct role in shaping the region’s affordable housing strategy. Through the district’s Apex program, students have contributed to the development of BoulderMOD, a modular housing factory designed to produce energy-efficient, permanently affordable homes. The program not only provides hands-on learning opportunities but also supports local housing needs by accelerating the production of high-quality, sustainable units.
At the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park — one of Boulder’s most significant and ongoing redevelopment efforts — these new homes represent stability and future opportunity for long-time residents. Many families in the community have been waiting for affordable options that would allow them to stay in their neighborhood without being priced out by rising property values.
“A lot of people are being affected by this. Like my neighbors are people who probably couldn't afford a home, if it wasn't for this project. So, count me lucky and them, too. We are blessed,” said resident Rodney Erickson.
Flatirons Habitat’s work at Ponderosa includes replacing aging mobile homes with high-quality, energy-efficient prefabricated structures, along with infrastructure upgrades that improve safety and long-term resilience. The organization has been steadily increasing its capacity to build modular units at BoulderMOD, allowing more families to transition into affordable homes faster than through traditional construction methods.
For the City of Boulder, these projects play a critical role in meeting its long-term housing targets. The city has set a goal for 15% of all homes to be affordable to low-, moderate-, and middle-income households by 2035, a benchmark intended to maintain a diverse and economically balanced community despite escalating housing costs. The Ponderosa redevelopment is one of several large-scale efforts helping move Boulder toward that target.
As the duplexes go up and modular home production expands, city leaders say the partnership model behind these projects — combining nonprofit expertise, school district innovation, and community involvement — is becoming an example for other communities looking to address affordability challenges.
Flatirons Habitat expects work at Ponderosa to continue into 2026, with additional phases of modular construction planned as demand grows and Boulder seeks more pathways to deliver sustainable, cost-effective housing.
Originally reported by Jennifer McRae in CBS News.
