new high-rise denver law may mean more affordable housing space

In a move to increase the city’s affordable housing stock, members of the Denver City Council have voted to allow developers to build structures as high as 16 stories in the popular River North Arts District.

In return, developers building those structures would allot more living space to affordable income units.

The building height plan will specifically apply to the area of the 38th and Blake Street commuter rail station.

The plan leading to the council vote has been in the works for some two years.

The council vote will also allow developers to build tall if they include in their projects entities such as day care services and small grocery stores that will serve the larger community.

According to city documents, the measure means that a developer putting up a 12-story structure, by way of example, would be required to build seven “incentive required units,” along with the already-established three units for that size building.

That would result in ten new affordable units for what would be a nearly 200,000 square-foot structure.

By Garry Boulard