Posted on: April 1, 2026
Source: Colorado Real Estate Journal
DENVER – A pair of local organizations addressing housing affordability and homelessness partnered to redevelop a publicly owned vacant site straddling the edge of the Berkeley and Sunnyside neighborhoods.
In February, the Denver Housing Authority and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless announced the partnership to develop up to 135 units of income-restricted, supportive family housing at 4745 Federal Blvd. The groups have partnered on many housing projects through the years. CCH was selected as the development partner through the DHA Delivers for Denver Permanent Supportive Housing partnership, otherwise known as the D3 program, with the city of Denver.
“We’re seeing large increases in households with kids and families experiencing homelessness,” said CCH Chief Communications & Public Policy Officer Cathy Alderman. “There’s just not enough deeply affordable housing for those lower-income households. We’re seeing more and more of those households entering the cycle of homelessness, because if they lose their home or if they get evicted, there’s not a lot of options for them to get rehoused quickly. So, we know that this is a huge gap in the system. While there is some family sheltering in Denver, it’s not the way that people want to or should live long term. We’re really excited about being able to provide this many units that will be deeply affordable to much lower-income households than a lot of the other properties that are being developed across the city of Denver right now.”
D3 funds support property acquisitions for future development partners like CCH to create, own and manage affordable housing. Under the partnership, CCH will design and construct the project, while DHA will ensure permanent affordability through a long-term ground lease. CCH is targeting beginning construction in late 2027, with lease-up anticipated in 2028.
“With affordable housing increasingly out of reach, projects like this are essential,” said DHA
CEO Joaquín Cintrón Vega. “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.”
DHA acquired the property in May 2020 for $10.95 million, according to Denver County public records. The 3.78-acre vacant parcel was previously home to a Rodeway Inn motel that DHA leased to the city of Denver for short-term shelter operations until 2023. Since the end of the lease, DHA facilitated environmental abatement and demolition of the former building to improve public health and safety and to prepare the site for new construction.
Image: Google Maps
“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,” said Denver City Council President Amanda Sandoval. “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.”
The site is located directly south of Interstate 70 along the Federal Boulevard RTD bus line, providing connectivity to the Denver metro area. The property is adjacent to Rocky Mountain Lake Park, offering direct access to recreation and a playground. The neighborhood includes several nearby dining and grocery options.
At least 40% of the units will be reserved for families earning up to 30% of the area median income, and all units will be restricted to households earning at or below 60% of the area median income. Currently in the design phases with Van Meter Williams Pollack LLP serving as architect, the family-friendly community is expected to include a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom units, primarily in townhome configurations, as well as a child care center, space for case management services, and amenities available for both building residents and neighborhood residents. Specifics for the project are still being determined.
“We’re working to figure out what’s the best configuration to accomplish those goals, so hopefully we will have a better sense of what the footprint will look like in the coming months,” Alderman said.
In August, CCH will apply for 4% low-income housing tax credits through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, as well as additional state and federal tax credits.
In 2024, homelessness among families with children in Colorado increased by 134% from the year before, according to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development annual report released last year.
“There are 15,328 children and youth experiencing homelessness in the Denver metro area this year,” said CCH CEO Britta Fisher. “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 average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Denver is nearly $2,100, and three-bedroom units average $2,800, according to a statement from DHA. The project at 4745 Federal Blvd. will add to the supply of affordable housing in the Denver metro area, as Colorado ranks the eighth-most expensive state in the country to live, the statement said.
Founded in 1984, the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless owns and operates properties, primarily in the Denver metro area, that provide permanent supportive, income-restricted, and transitional housing. Several of its projects have been designed to house and support families. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to work toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of solutions for people experiencing and at risk of homelessness. The coalition advocates for and provides housing and services to improve the health, well-being and stability to the population it serves, aiding nearly 20,000 individuals and families each year.
Denver Housing Authority creates and preserves affordable housing, serving more than 30,700 very low-, low- and middle-income individuals across the city. Its portfolio comprises more than 14,600 housing units and vouchers that support stability and opportunity.
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