ULC Urban Updates November 2020

URBAN UPDATES

Give light and people will find the way.

- Ella Baker

November | 2020

Vote!

Remember to exercise your right to VOTE on or before November 3rd. As you fill out your ballots, please consider these two measures, which ULC formally supports:

Proposition EE: Would improve our children’s health, provide desperately needed funding for public schools, ensure universal, free preschool for all Colorado kids, and funds for affordable housing. Click here to read why CEO Aaron Miripol thinks Prop EE "Hits All Marks".
In Denver, Measure 2B would help the city leverage hundreds of millions of dollars over time to grow the pipeline of supportive housing to 1,800 homes over 10 years and would help maintain improvements to shelter services that have been made possible in recent months by federal emergency COVID-19 relief funds.

Groundbreaking and History Making

On October 16th in 30 degree weather, ULC and a host of partners, including Columbia Ventures and Clinica Tepeyac, made history as we broke ground on the largest permanently affordable housing community, Viña, and health clinic, Clinica Tepeyac, in Denver at 48th and Race Street. Viña represents the first phase of an affordable mixed-use development spanning six acres across an entire city block in the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood. In addition to providing affordable housing, the project will include the expansion of local healthcare services by Clínica Tepeyac.

Developed by Columbia Ventures, Viña will offer units ranging from studios to three bedrooms, with a focus on serving lower income families. Forty-five units will be income restricted to households earning up to 30 percent of the area median income (AMI), which is up to $21,000 for a single-person household or up to $30,000 for a four-person household. Thirty units will be income restricted for households earning up to 50 percent of the AMI, and 75 units are restricted for those earning up to 80 percent AMI.

Viña offers more units at 30 percent AMI than all 19 affordable projects in the defined market area. This range of affordability was reached following a number of community meetings with neighborhood stakeholders to help drive the need for deeply affordable housing options in this part of the city.

“Community- and family-supporting projects like this, located just steps away from our transit system, don’t happen by accident. They are intentional and planned to provide opportunity for the residents here,” said Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “Denver is extremely proud to have made a key land investment here years ago through ULC, and to continue investing in much-needed affordable homes here that will serve the community for generations to come.”

To learn more, click here! Or to watch the groundbreaking celebration, click here.

Removing Historic Barriers

History has chronicled the extreme inequities that exist for people of color with regard to owning property, one of the most essential elements of democratic freedom in the U.S.

ULC, in partnership with The Denver Foundation, was proud to present Arc of Justice, a documentary that features the late Representative John Lewis and details how, against all odds, a disenfranchised group of African Americans in the south created New Communities Inc, the first community land trust in the U.S.

The viewing was followed by a panel discussion on the topic. Moderated by ULC's Erin Clark, the panel included perspectives from LaDawn Sullivan, Tony Pickett, Ellen Cohen, and Shirley Sherrod on how we continue to overcome barriers to ownership and justice. A FREE rental of Arc of Justice can be obtained at www.newday.com until November 15. Use the code ULC2020.

ULC, inspired by The Denver Foundation’s Black Resilience in Colorado Initiative, is also making $250,000 available in low-interest loans to support Metro-Denver, Black-led/serving nonprofits with their capital projects. To learn more, click here.

Below Market Space for Lease!

Are you changing the way you think about office space?

Are you a mission-minded organization looking to office near like-minded groups?

Talk to ULC!

Harlan Nonprofit Center

ULC has a variety of suites available at the Harlan Nonprofit Center, which is located just south of Alameda Ave. about halfway between Sheridan & Wadsworth. Offering updated finishes, a responsive landlord, property manager, abundant parking, and affordable lease rates. Numerous nearby retail and restaurant amenities. To see the listing, click here, or for more information, please contact ULC’s property manager.

South Platte Crossing

ULC has several floors for sale or lease in Adam's Tower, located just off the 1-76/E. 74th Ave. interchange. Adam's Tower is located in the heart of Commerce City, and is walking distance to the 72nd Ave. RTD Light Rail Station. To see the listing, click here, or for more information email ULC's property manager.

Westminster

Located in the heart of Westminster near Federal Blvd. & US-36, ULC has a 6,385 sq. ft. freestanding office building for lease, which would be the perfect space for construction, landscape, and roofing companies. An additional half acre fenced lot, next to the parking lot, is also available for lease with the office space. This building is located within Westminster's redevelopment TOD space and sits close to RTD's B-Line Light Rail! To see the listing, click here, or for more information contact ULC's property manager.

Partner Spotlight of the Month!

Housing Colorado

Housing Colorado is an industry resource for all aspects of affordable housing, including professional advocacy, issue expertise, and networking opportunities. As Colorado’s affordable housing industry association, they exist so that “home” does not equate to hardship, which is especially relevant in Colorado as one of the fastest growing states in the nation.

Housing Colorado’s advocacy work has been crucially important this year, “Housing Colorado, along with partner organizations, has been working to prevent evictions and foreclosures,” says Elena Wilkin, Housing Colorado's Executive Director. “We've advocated at the state and federal level for eviction moratoriums coupled with rental and mortgage assistance. While we have been effective - providing protections for Coloradans through December 31 - many continue to worry that evictions may increase in January once the moratoriums are lifted and the funding runs out.”

Wilkin also shares, “We remain true to our mission of providing advocacy and professional development for the affordable housing community. What has changed is our delivery - hosting virtual events instead of in person and meeting with legislators and advocates virtually instead of in person.”

Earlier in October, Housing Colorado successfully shifted their annual conference to a virtual event. Dr. Tiffany Manuel, PhD, opened the 2020 Housing Colorado Conference as the keynote speaker and said, “This is a moment to go big and have transformational work in the affordable housing industry.” Dr. Manuel continued to explain the problematic mindset of individuals who respond to lack of affordable housing, saying “I’m one of the lucky ones who can afford to live here.” She emphasized the need to “bring those bystanders out of the politics of ‘lucky’ and into the conversation around equity and inclusion.” She continued, “housing is adaptive work that heads a whole host of stakeholders that have to be aligned. We need to build systems to support people so everyone can be lucky … Name that moment: this is the opportunity to acknowledge that racial and equity problems are adaptive, not technical. Now is the moment to tackle these problems.”

To read more about Housing Colorado and their annual conference, click here!