Metro Denver landlords have a new website they hope will help them communicate with tenants -- and get their story out to policymakers.
Mike Holt, president of the Apartment Association of Metro Denver, launched the Housing4Colorado site Wednesday at his organization's annual trade show, which drew some 2,500 apartment managers, leasing company executives and others to the Denver Mart.
The association developed the site along with Energy Outreach Colorado, Brothers Redevelopment, NOCO Rental Housing Association, Weld County Apartment Association, Family Homestead, Apartment Association of Southern Colorado and the Colorado Apartment Association. Holt, who also is regional vice president for apartment complex developer Legacy Partners, said the goal was to educate the public, support his industry and "put renters in a position of informational strength."
Mark Williams, the apartment association's executive vice president, said he hoped to bring more partners into the web site project.
"We want it to evolve," Williams said. "We really want to advance the conversation about solutions to housing, solutions to affordable housing."
So far, just one issue appears under an issues tab on the site: rent control. The apartment association argued a rent control measure that stalled in the legislature this past session could lead landlords to leave the industry, resulting in less supply and higher rents. The measure, which would have allowed Colorado communities to craft their own rent control measures, is likely to come up again next session.
The site also has briefings on renters' rights and fair housing laws and links to nonprofits such as Brothers, which builds and manages below-market-rate rental properties and helps runs a hotline for renters facing eviction and other problems.
