Sun Valley -- a neighborhood with one of the lowest average household incomes in the city -- could soon be the site of a pretty big affordable housing complex for its oldest residents.
Denver City Council on Monday unanimously approved a request from the Denver Housing Authority to rezone currently vacant low-income housing complexes at 930 N. Bryant St., 2449 W. 10th Ave., and 991 N. Alcott Way. The new zoning will allow the housing authority, which owns the properties, to build up to 12 stories. Denver Housing Authority Chief Real Estate Investment Officer Ryan Tobin said it will allow for a proposed 212-unit housing complex on a portion of the rezoned area.
"This housing is necessary and deeply valued," said Councilmember Jamie Torres, who represents the district where the proposed complex will be built, during Monday's meeting.
The current zoning limits buildings to eight stories. The rezoning request is part of a larger redevelopment plan that will change how this Westside neighborhood will look in the coming years. The request was supported by the Sun Valley Community Coalition, the local registered neighborhood organization.
The proposed complex would be for people 55 years or older, Tobin said. A person living there would need to make $42,000 a year or less to qualify, or $54,000 or less for a household of three. Tobin said the housing complex would cost roughly $77.4 million to build. It will include subsidized housing units.
The rezoning will also allow the housing authority to develop a two-story greenhouse. Tobin said the greenhouse would be used to grow food year-round to give people living in the area access to healthy food. Tobin said the greenhouse garden would be operated in partnership with the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Denver has 97 housing complexes with income restrictions for seniors. They provide 7,791 units for older people, people with disabilities and veterans, according to Department of Housing Stability spokesperson Derek Woodbury.
