A new affordable housing development in Denver is moving forward after officials cleared plans to build up to 135 income-restricted supportive housing units at 4745 Federal Boulevard.
The project is being developed through a partnership between the Denver Housing Authority and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. The development aims to provide stable housing options for families experiencing homelessness or facing severe housing affordability challenges in the Denver metro area.
The housing project will be located in the Berkeley and Sunnyside neighborhoods and will include family-oriented housing along with community-focused amenities designed to support long-term stability.
“With affordable housing increasingly out of reach, projects like this are essential,” Joaquín Cintrón Vega, DHA CEO said. “By leveraging DHA’s D3 program, our partnership with the Coalition will expand access to family-sized, income-restricted units, addressing the urgent housing needs of Denver’s children and families today and for years to come.”
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless was selected as the development partner through the DHA Delivers for Denver (D3) Permanent Supportive Housing initiative in collaboration with the City of Denver.
Under the agreement, the Coalition will handle the design and construction of the housing development, while DHA will maintain long-term affordability through a ground lease arrangement.
“When this property was acquired in 2020 during the height of COVID-19, I made a commitment to our community to advocate for 4745 Federal to be redeveloped into permanently affordable housing,” Amanda Sandoval said. “As Northwest Denver has experienced significant gentrification and displacement, using publicly owned land for affordable housing is critical. I am grateful to the Denver Housing Authority and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless for partnering to move this vision forward.”
Officials say the project will focus on providing stable housing for families with children who are facing housing insecurity.
“There are 15,328 children and youth experiencing homelessness in the Denver Metro area this year,” said Britta Fisher, CEO of the Coalition. “We know that the effects of housing instability on children are profound, including long-term impacts on educational attainment, health, and economic opportunities. By creating a community-focused development with large units, playground areas, a community space, extensive outdoor areas, and other family-centered amenities, the Coalition and DHA are working to make Denver affordable for the children who need it most.”
The development will be built on a 3.78-acre site that previously housed the El Padrino restaurant and a Rodeway Inn motel. The Denver Housing Authority has already completed environmental cleanup and demolition of the former structures to prepare the property for redevelopment.
At least 40 percent of the housing units will be reserved for families earning 30 percent of the Area Median Income, which currently equals $37,850 for a family of three and $42,050 for a family of four in Denver. All units will be restricted to households earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income.
Developers plan to apply for 4 percent housing tax credits through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority in August 2026, along with additional state and federal tax credits to help finance the project.
If funding approvals proceed as expected, construction is currently targeted to begin in late 2027.
The development comes as Colorado continues to face rising housing costs and increasing rates of family homelessness.
In 2024, homelessness among families with children in the state rose by 134 percent. Meanwhile, housing costs in Denver remain among the highest in the region, with average rents reaching nearly $2,100 per month for a two-bedroom apartment and about $2,800 for a three-bedroom unit.
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Officials say developments like the Federal Boulevard project are essential to expanding the supply of affordable housing in a state now ranked among the most expensive housing markets in the United States.
Founded in 1984, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless currently owns and operates multiple supportive and income-restricted housing properties throughout the Denver metro area. Several of its developments also include services such as childcare, health care access and community support programs for residents.
Project leaders say similar family-focused amenities—including playground areas, shared community spaces and potentially a childcare center—could be incorporated into the new Federal Boulevard development depending on available funding.
Originally reported by admin in Lavoz Colorado.
