You can join in the planning and zoning board meeting that's open to the public tonight, September 17.

For a couple of years now, representatives of Colorado State University and Timberline Church have met, planned, and creatively outlined efforts to offer "attainable" housing east of Timberline Road and south of Drake Road. The proposed new development is a rezoning effort of approximately 10 acres of land owned by the church.

The average monthly rent for a 900-square-foot apartment in Fort Collins is more than $1,500, a one-percent increase over last year. For those who cannot afford to purchase a home (with an medium home value of more than $422,000), renting a home is becoming less of a viable alternative.

"The church hopes to rezone part of the site from low-density multifamily to medium-density, which would allow more dwelling units per acre. In its application, Timberline defines attainable housing as units that cost 30% or less of residents' monthly income," reports the Coloradoan.

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CSU and Timberline Church have come together with a proposed plan for apartments and stacked condominiums. A detailed Conceptual Review Application (2018) is on file with the City of Fort Collins public records. Colorado State University Research Foundation (CSURF) also contriubuted to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to seeking a qualified developer in 2019. 

"Make efficient use of this scarce resource: seek to maximize the number of units on the site, and create the most affordable rents financially feasible. A conceptual sketch plan showed a potential yield of 166 units with a mix of apartments and stacked condominiums."

According to the Coloradoan, you can join in the next meeting that is open to the public. The planning and zoning board will meet tonight, September 17, at 6 p.m. via Zoom. 

Many have thoughts on the Colorado housing market and how efforts such as providing WiFi to those with lower income will alleviate the problem. In fact, Longmont has broken ground on a tiny house community for veterans.

What effective solutions to providing affordable housing have you seen implemented in your own community? Tell us more in the comments below.