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Willoughby Corner
Willoughby Corner Lafayette Housing Development

Willoughby Corner

Willoughby Corner Rezoning Application – Public Hearings

To watch April 19th City Council, click here: https://lafayetteco.gov/StreamingVideo

On April 19th, Lafayette City Council unanimously approved Boulder County Housing Authority’s rezoning application to the City of Lafayette for the Willoughby Corner property, located at Tract A1, Coal Park Subdivision, to be rezoned from M1 to R4. With the City’s recent update to the Comprehensive Plan in Fall 2021, the property now has a Future Land Use designation of “Housing Area”. As such, the property is identified to be rezoned to a residential zoning designation to reflect the intent to the Comprehensive Plan and to provide much needed affordable housing on a site that is compatible with surrounding land uses. The rezone does not include any approvals for the development of the property. Development entitlements will come with the public hearing on the PUD, the final PUD, and Final Site Plan(s).

Senior Housing – 9% Tax Credit Allocation Awarded!

On May 5th, 2022, the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority awarded the Willoughby Corner Phase IA Senior the 9% Tax Credit Allocation. This will go to help support the financing of the permanent senior affordable housing. We thank all our supporters and partners that made this a reality.

Next Steps

BCHA is continuing to work through the City of Lafayette’ development process. The next step is to review the Planned Unit Development with the Planning Commissioners on July 13th, 2022. If you are interested in joining us at the Planning Commission, please feel free to reach out to us directly for more information.

East Lafayette Advisory Committee [June 9th,2022]

Link to watch ELAC meeting: https://youtu.be/BpwtdK7-zwQ

On June 9th, the East Lafayette Advisory Committee held an informational meeting. The meeting covered BCHA updates, PUD pages, Willoughby Corner Timeline and Q&A. BCHA is continuing to work through the PUD and the city process and are expected to go to Planning Commission for the PUD on July 13th.

To review the meeting in detail please watch the recording via the link above.

BCHA is continuing to pursue competitive funding opportunities to support the development of Willoughby Corner. Along with many other qualifying criteria, the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) requires the property to be zoned to allow for housing to be competitive. Receiving rezoning approval by April 5th would put BCHA and the City of Lafayette in the position to secure $12.4M in tax-credit equity from CHFA for the Phase 1A Willoughby Senior Apartments and significant additional funding for 93 family apartments and a Community Building in Phase 1B.

Amid skyrocketing housing prices across our county and along the Front Range, the Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) is planning to create a neighborhood of diverse housing options that will help the City of Lafayette and the broader region reach important goals for addressing the lack of housing affordability in the years ahead. Willoughby Corner will serve generations of families and individuals, elders, and our workforce, who need safe, stable, high-quality affordable homes.

BCHA proposes 400 permanently affordable homes in a variety of building types, including duplexes, townhomes, apartments, and community amenity spaces. The planned housing site is a 24-acre parcel located southwest of 120th Street and East Emma Street in Lafayette. The land parcel sits in an ideal location near important services and the Lafayette town center. The area is considered a priority by the Boulder County Transportation Department for the enhancement of multi-modal transportation options.

In 2017, The City of Lafayette, Boulder County, and Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA), partnered to purchase the vacant industrial-zoned land for $3.5 million to provide much needed affordable housing. The entities entered into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA), dedicating the land to create deed-restricted affordable housing, including rental and for-sale options. See below Intergovernmental Tab for more information.

BCHA is the official housing authority for all areas of the county beyond the city limits of Longmont and Boulder, including Lafayette. A significant portion of BCHA’s mission is to sustainably maximize access to and maintain quality affordable housing and appropriate services for residents of Boulder County, including middle-, low-, and very-low-income community members. We accomplish this mission through community collaboration, integrated services and programs, professional organization, effective management, and the pursuit and expansion of funding sources and land and building acquisition.

Willoughby Corner: Expanding Housing Options for Families and Individuals, Elders, and our Workforce

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April 2022 Update

Willoughby Corner received a recommendation for funding from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Housing for Willoughby Phase 1A Senior Apartments! This $3,456,000 in Enhanced Gap Funding demonstrates support at the State level for Willoughby Corner! This grant award is conditional on receiving an allocation of tax credits from CHFA in the 9% round and submitting a formal application to DOH. BCHA will present Willoughby Corner Phase 1A Senior Apartments to CHFA at the end of the month.

Earlier in March, Lafayette Planning Commissioners voted unanimously in support of the Willoughby Corner’s rezoning application. We greatly appreciate all the members of the community who came out to support the project on their busy evenings. With Planning Commission recommendation for approval, we will go before Lafayette City Council on April 5th, 2022, for final review of the Willoughby Corner rezoning application. We encourage members of the community to reach out to us if there are any questions regarding the rezoning application at jasper@thepachnercompany.com .

Want to live Update?

If you or your group would like to meet with, please reach out to jasper@thepachnercompany.com to set up a one on one or group meeting.

Project Timeline

Project Timeline

The following schedule shows activities completed and upcoming milestones:

Milestone Timeline
Sketch Plan Approved Completed Sept.24, 2019
Initial Preliminary Plan Submission Completed March 27, 2020
Vertical Design Kickoff Completed July 2021
Pre-Application Meeting with City Completed, Aug. 2021
ELAC Meeting Completed, Sept.15, 2021
ELAC Meeting Completed Dec. 1, 2021
9% LIHTC – Letter of Intent Completed Dec. 1, 2021
Neighborhood Meeting [virtual] Completed Dec. 15, 2021
PUD 1st Submittal Completed December 2021
Neighborhood Meeting 2 [virtual] Completed Jan. 13, 2022
9% LIHTC- Phase 1A Application Completed Feb. 1, 2022
Rezoning Application Completed Feb. 8, 2022
ELAC Meeting Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, 6:00 p.m.
Rezoning-Planning Commission Public Hearing Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 6:00 p.m.
PUD 2nd Submittal Early March 2022
Rezoning-City Council Public Hearing Tuesday, April 5, 2022, 5:30 p.m.
Phase 1 Building Design Development Ongoing
4% LIHTC Application April 1st, 2022
PUD Public Hearings April/May, 2022
Site Plan Applications May 2022
9% LIHTC Anticipated Award May 2022
Construction Documents Complete August 2022
Building Permits November 2022
4% LIHTC Anticipated Award September 2022
Phase 1 Construction Start Q1 2023

Planning Documents

Rezoning

Planned Unit Development (PUD)

Additional Planning Documents

Sketch Plan

On Sept. 24, 2019 the Lafayette Planning Commission approved Boulder County Housing Authority’s (BCHA’s) sketch plan for Willoughby Corner on a 6-0 vote. There were nine conditions attached to their approval. The Planning Commission Decision Memo outlines their approval and those conditions.

Preliminary Plan

The Boulder County Housing Authority submitted the first Preliminary Plan submittal for Willoughby Corner on March 27, 2020. A revised submission will be completed for Dec., 2021.

Intergovernmental Agreement

Intergovernmental Agreement

In June 2017, the City of Lafayette and Boulder County (and by extension, Boulder County Housing Authority) entered into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) around this planned neighborhood of affordable workforce housing that helps demonstrate expectations and guide performance around the development. The IGA calls for 80% of all homes built on the property to be deed-restricted for rents and purchase prices that are well-below-market rate for residents. Of these, 20% should be for-sale and 80% should be rental (Section 9a/b/c). The rental homes are stipulated to serve people earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income. And at least 10% of the rental homes must be set aside for people age 55 and older.

The IGA also stipulates that (in perpetuity) the land can only be used for affordable housing (Section 20a).

This IGA highlights past successes for the two entities in partnering to create affordable housing for families, seniors, disabled individuals, and others, but also acknowledges that “others still struggle to attain safe, decent, affordable housing in Lafayette” (Recital A/B).

Importantly, the IGA defines “affordable housing” as “housing for which the total cost of monthly rent payments, or the total cost of monthly payment of principal, interest, taxes, insurance including private mortgage insurance, and homeowner association dues, does not exceed the specified percentage of the Area Median Income and which is intended not to require payment of more than 30% of the gross monthly household income…” (Section 2).

These are the benefits of the planned neighborhood of affordable workforce housing listed in the IGA:

  • People living in the new housing are likely to shop within Lafayette and increase the city’s sales tax base.
  • People living in the housing will likely generate additional and new revenue to the City of Lafayette.
  • The agreement is consistent with the city’s past and present policies on economic development and affordable housing initiatives.
  • The agreement serves to provide benefit and advance the public interest and welfare of the city and county and residents and businesses within both.

The final plan for this housing in east Lafayette will be developed largely through guidance from this IGA; input received from a range of neighbors, community members, and other stakeholders; and the mission of the Boulder County Housing Authority to maximize access to affordable housing for a range of community members in need.

A second IGA was developed between Boulder County and the Boulder County Housing Authority which passes on all the requirements of the first agreement to BCHA.

Early character sketch by Coburn Architects of a design option for the neighborhood of affordable workforce housing

Community Outreach

Community Outreach

Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) is committed to engaging with neighbors and others in a productive conversation around how to meet the community’s broader needs for diverse housing, environmental sustainability, transportation, infrastructure, and more. To gain a full understanding of the surrounding neighborhoods and Lafayette more broadly, we spent several months immersed in the community, getting to know the land, the neighbors, and active community members in the area. This has helped shape and prioritize community outreach and engagement opportunities, including neighborhood planning, green space and trail connections, roadway connectivity, and mobility issues.

With this understanding of the community, we developed a Public Engagement Plan (PEP) that includes community wide engagement through open houses, community presentations, and the formation of the East Lafayette Advisory Committee (ELAC) – a community group of area residents and stakeholders who will help advise BCHA in implementing this engagement plan in the most inclusive and effective way, and who will engage with us in shared learning about the issues and interests behind the planned community of affordable workforce housing.

To date, outreach has consisted of distributing 5,000 flyers and postcards to nearby households and local businesses; 25 community meetings, including three held in Spanish; open houses with more than 500 attendees; and 10 meetings initiated by BCHA with the ELAC.

Concurrent with this outreach are ongoing presentations to community groups as well as backyard meetings and coffees with interested neighbors or groups who want to learn more about the planned housing and provide feedback. We are presenting and listening to neighborhood associations and business groups throughout the area. We welcome the opportunity to share our story and hear how we can make this affordable workforce housing community a model for both design and engagement.

Community Outreach Meeting: Willoughby Corner

Stay in Touch!

To facilitate community feedback, we have created multiple ways to communicate with our project
team and community ELAC members:

  • You can email the ELAC Board and the BCHA Project Team at jasper@thepachnercompany.com Every email sent to this account will be shared with all members of the ELAC as well as relevant BCHA staff. This email is set up to provide open communication with fellow Lafayette community members and volunteers serving on the ELAC.
  • BCHA’s Outreach team is available via phone, by calling 303-825-1671. For more information, or if you have general questions or comments, email us at msehlke@bouldercounty.org.
  • Each ELAC meeting has dedicated time for public Q&A; see the information above for details about the next meeting.
  • If needed, materials can be translated into a language of your preference.

ELAC

East Lafayette Advisory Committee

The purpose of the East Lafayette Advisory Committee (ELAC) is to engage in shared learning about the issues and interests behind the planned community of affordable homes, as well as understanding the needs of and impacts to the immediate and broader communities. Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) team members are fully committed to considering all advisory opinions and recommendations. ELAC meetings will be held in 2021 as the project team pursues Planning approvals and begins vertical design

ELAC Meeting: Advisory Committee

ELAC meetings include volunteer representatives from neighbors and community groups.

See the East Lafayette Advisory Committee Membership and Charter PDFs for additional information as well as ELAC Meeting agendas, presentations, materials and minutes:

You can watch a recording of the latest ELAC meeting here:

Project Documents

Project Documents

The Boulder County Housing Authority is committed to transparency and an inclusive public process. Project related documents, submissions and materials are available below. Also refer to the Project History tab for earlier working documents.

9% funding application: BCHA’s presentation to the Colorado Housing Finance Agency a concept for a 63-unit senior building at Willoughby Corner.

Additional information can be read in our December 2021 Press Release

2018-2019 Community Meetings: BCHA and our community engagement firm, The Pachner Company, hosted a series of community open houses in Summer 2018 and Winter 2019 to introduce ourselves, provide an overview of the planned community and to help determine how we can best engage the public, the surrounding neighborhoods, and the broader community. The open houses featured several stations that attendees could visit related to various aspects of the planned community of affordable workforce homes. The following were the community meeting presentation boards:

Intergovernmental Agreements: Two intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) are in place between the City of Lafayette, Boulder County, and the Boulder County Housing Authority. Along with input received from neighbors, area residents, and other stakeholders, as well as BCHA’s mission to maximize the availability of affordable housing in our communities, these IGAs will help guide the final designs and plans for the neighborhood of affordable workforce homes.

Project History

Project History

Willoughby Corner has been a long time in the making, with remarkably strong neighborhood support and community involvement. Below you will find a history of activities completed in 2018-2020.

Naming Contest

The name Willoughby Corner is a tribute to our community. In October 2018, BCHA held a “Lafayette, Name That Neighborhood” contest and engaged residents, local businesses, non-profit partners, and the East Lafayette Community Advisory Council (ELAC) to name this new community of workforce housing. BCHA received over 40 submissions from 25 residents for potential names for this project. Residents were asked to consider submissions that best represents the support affordable housing will provide to the Lafayette community, as well as to incorporate something important about this area, including history, present-day characteristics, and/or its people. As the Daily Camera noted in an article about the community naming effort, “The name ‘Willoughby Corner’ is based on the writings of an area historian, whose work spotlighted the area’s connections with the coal industry’s often-fraught past. Amid the violent clashes over unionization of mine workers during the early 1900’s that touched Lafayette’s mines, as well as the better-known clashes in southern Colorado, the American Fuel Company – owner of the Willoughby Mine – supported its workers.” Willoughby Corner was suggested by a Lafayette citizen and we believe it will welcome residents for generations to come in east Lafayette.

Design Workshop

Community Design Workshop Open House: Here is a presentation of the design suggestions developed by workshop participants. Please take the time to see the ideas area neighbors and other stakeholders came up with to plan for the new neighborhood. Here are the flyers (in English or Spanish) created by our engagement firm, The Pachner Company, who co-led this design workshop.

Design Workshop

Design Workshop

An initial design workshop was held in August 2018 for the planned East Lafayette community of affordable workforce housing. Interested community members participated by sharing design ideas and preferences with other community stakeholders and the project team. Attendees made recommendations for the layout of the planned community, including housing types and locations, parks and trail amenities, and other infrastructure. Approximately 40 to 50 community members attended the open house. Participants learned about the project and shared their views on the opportunities and challenges presented by the site. The attendees then broke into nine small groups for an interactive land use exercise with a map of the site, building blocks, and construction paper to design the community.

After analyzing the community-designed plans, common themes emerged, including (but not limited to):

  • providing a connection from Canterbury (by Peak to Peak) to 120th,
  • providing a buffer along 120th and Emma,
  • striving for lower intensity of uses along Emma St,
  • prioritizing higher intensity of uses along the industrial edge, and
  • encouraging multi-modal connections.

East Lafayette Advisory Committee

The first meeting of the ELAC was held on Aug. 15, 2018. At the second ELAC meeting (Sept. 17, 2018) members reviewed the outcomes from the Design Workshop Open House and provided additional feedback for consideration for the planning of the site. Most of the discussion was on the Design Workshop Open House planning outcomes that will guide the planning moving forward. The BCHA housing development team carefully reviewed the design suggestions from the Design Workshop Open House and ELAC members, and created three Draft site plans for community review. These plans reflected input received from neighbors and other area stakeholders combined with the mission of BCHA to increase the availability of affordable housing in our communities and the requirements of the intergovernmental agreement between BCHA and the City of
Lafayette.

The team presented draft site plans at the third ELAC meeting (Oct. 22, 2018) and also shared the draft site plans electronically with all ELAC members via email to allow one week to review the plans before the October ELAC meeting. At this meeting, the BCHA team also provided a presentation on the recent transportation/traffic study that was conducted near the planned housing site, and shared the latest information on transportation improvements planned for the area as well as other potential improvements that could result from the presence of the new neighborhood. Here is a PDF of the presentation that was given.

The fourth ELAC meeting (Dec. 10, 2018) included a re-cap of the recent “pre-application” meeting with City of Lafayette staff, a discussion around density, and a detailed look at the sketch plan process and timeline for the planned neighborhood of affordable workforce homes. Here is the presentation that was given, and here are the density comparables that were shared with the committee.

At the fifth ELAC meeting (Jan. 6, 2019), a proposed illustrative plan for the development was presented. The results and analysis of a traffic study of the area related to the proposal and its potential impacts were also shared. Here is the agenda for the meeting and the packet of materials that were reviewed and discussed by ELAC members.

Affordable Housing Development Fee

The City of Lafayette is supporting this planned affordable workforce housing. The fee, which went into effect in January 2016 and has been updated twice, now collects $1.00 per square foot on all new residential development to help fund permanently-affordable housing. In July 2019, this was updated to include a $1.00 per square foot affordable housing development fee on all new commercial development. Here is the ordinance describing this fee.

Project Team

Willoughby Corner Project Team

A talented team of professionals will bring Willoughby Corner to life:

Frequently Asked Question?

The answers in this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section have been compiled by the Boulder County Housing Authority. The answers represent the best information we have at this time.

Housing

Will the homes be for rent or for sale?

We anticipate that there will be a mix of rental and for-sale homes affordable to families and individuals, elders, and members of our workforce as part of the community. While the final mix of homes will be determined through the planning and financing process, the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between Boulder County and the City of Lafayette specifies that of the total amount of homes on the property, approximately 80% will be for rent and 20% will be for sale.

Will this be permanently affordable? How do we guarantee that?

The IGA between the City of Lafayette and Boulder County specifies that all affordable units will remain affordable in perpetuity.

Who will own and manage the homes once they are completed?

BCHA has a full property management and maintenance team responsible for the day-to-day operations of its housing. BCHA also provides maintenance services for its properties. Maintenance staff conducts regular inspections, attend to work orders, and are available for emergencies 24/7.

At Willoughby Corner, the rental apartments will be serviced by maintenance and operations. Repairs and maintenance of owner occupied homes will be the responsibility of the homeowner.

Will this be Section 8 housing?

There are two types of “Section 8 housing.” The first is where federal funds are used to build and subsidize operations of an affordable housing building. The affordable housing community in East Lafayette will not be traditional federally subsidized housing.

The second type of Section 8 is also known as “Housing Choice Vouchers.” This is a HUD program that enables a household to pay 30% of their income on rent, and HUD provides a subsidy for the remainder. Housing Choice Vouchers can be used wherever there is a willing landlord and a unit that meets the HUD requirements (reasonable rent, and a Housing Quality Standards inspection). The new community of affordable housing will accept Housing Choice Vouchers.

Housing Choice Vouchers are a powerful tool to assist very-­low-income households and create income diversity in a neighborhood. However, the resource is extremely scarce: waitlist times are often 5-­10 years.

We anticipate that a small percentage of residents who will live in this affordable housing project may qualify for income-based federal housing assistance under the Housing Choice Voucher program. This housing does not depend upon HUD or the Housing Choice Voucher for funding.

Will the housing be apartments or houses? How tall will the buildings be?

The proposed housing will include a mix of building types. This may include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, and apartments. The final building types will be determined through the planning process with extensive opportunity for input from the community.

What’s it going to look like?

Architecture and design will be developed throughout our inclusive planning process.

Through a variety of community outreach events we will gain input on design elements and incorporate these into our site planning and building design. We also anticipate integrating community amenities such as a pocket park space, community gathering spaces, and trail connectivity.

How many cars per home will there be after the project is completed?

At other BCHA properties we typically see around 1 car per household. As part of the traffic and transportation studies, BCHA will be conducting car counts at Aspinwall, Josephine Commons and Kestrel in order to provide exact data on comparable sites. This will be in addition to the traffic studies conducted as part of the site planning process.

Development Construction

What is the timeline for the project?

The design, approval, and financing of affordable housing is a multi-step process that can be difficult to predict. Based on the current project status, the fastest that the project could proceed is outlined below:

  • Site planning and City entitlements: 2018 – 2021
  • Apply for affordable housing funding: 2021/2022
  • Begin construction on the first phase of affordable homes: 2023
  • Complete the first phase of affordable homes: 2024/2025

How will the developer and general contractor mitigate construction impacts for people living near the site? How will construction traffic and workers access the site?

BCHA will work closely with City of Lafayette and the adjoining neighbors to create safe, low impact access to the site. The general contractor, once one is selected, will be required to create a detailed and specific construction access plan, and will ensure that all subcontractors and materials providers adhere to that plan. Other ways to minimize impacts include setting limits on work hours, setting specific limited construction access routes, putting restrictions on where employees and subcontractors can park, and having a water truck on site to minimize dust. A perimeter fence will also be constructed around the entire project site to isolate the dangers of an active constructive site from the general public. All of these approaches have been utilized on previous projects.

All efforts will be made to limit the impacts of construction, especially to neighbors along Flagg Drive and Emma Street.

Will any local Lafayette subcontractors get an opportunity to work on the affordable housing community?

Yes. The willingness and ability to recruit local subcontractors will be one of the selection criteria used to screen the general contractor.

Community Socio-Economic Impacts

Are there economic benefits to the City as a whole from having a more diverse and affordable mix of housing on this site?

Housing diversity contributes to economic activity associated with households spending their disposable income on items such as food, clothing, transportation, and health care. The degree to which these impacts remain in the local economy depends on the services and goods available within that particular region.

Community revitalization, expanding home ownership, and the effective delivery of health care and other services are all enhanced by public investment in stable affordable housing.

From the standpoint of a healthy lifestyle, when housing is made more affordable, then the income that is saved can be used to meet other basic needs; for example, the purchase of fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods.

Research has demonstrated that inclusion of more diverse and affordable housing for families and individuals, elders, and members of the workforce in communities increases spending and employment in the local economy, and reduces the risks of foreclosures and the instability in the economy when employers have difficulty attracting and retaining workers.

How will the proposed housing impact school enrollment? Do we need to be concerned about overcrowding?

We anticipate that the neighborhood will be made up of a diverse mix of families, seniors, singles and couples without children. BCHA will work with Boulder Valley School District to ensure that adequate capacity is available to serve the projected number of students as part of the planning process.

Traffic, Access, and Utilities

How much traffic will the site generate?

A thorough traffic study will be completed as part of the site planning process. The study will take into account current traffic patterns, future growth in Lafayette, as well as traffic generated by the project.

This study will create a projection of the traffic generated by the proposed units, the capacity for the local roads to serve these trips, and the impacts to Level of Service (LOS) associated with the development. Any traffic improvements required by the proposed units, including signals, stop signs, acceleration/deceleration lanes, turn lanes, etc. would be included in the development costs and paid for by the developer and/or the City of Lafayette.

How will a new community impact the intersection at 120th St and Emma St?

Traffic will be an integral part of our plan and future submittal. BCHA will work with the County, City of Lafayette and CDOT on traffic solutions to the intersection at 120th and Emma. We are very aware of the safety concerns and will take this into consideration as we draw plans for the housing community.

Future Residents

Who will be eligible to live in the housing? What is the screening process for new residents?

Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) will manage the eligibility for the rental housing. Applicants will be required to provide income documentation, as well as pass both criminal and sex offender background checks.

The IGA between the City of Lafayette and BCHA calls for 80% of all homes built on the property to be deed-restricted for rents and purchase prices that are well-below-market rate for residents. Of these, 20% should be for-sale and 80% should be rental (Section 9a/b/c). The rental homes are stipulated to serve people earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income. And at least 10% of the rental homes must be set aside for people age 55 and older.

We anticipate a blend of families, individuals, elders, and workforce members will live in this diverse mix of homes at Willoughby Corner.

Will Housing Choice Vouchers be accepted?

Yes. For more information on Housing Choice Vouchers:

What are the income levels for the new occupants in the community?

2021 Income Limits, Boulder County, Colorado

Area Median Income 1 Person 2 Person 3 Person 4 Person 5 Person 6 Person 7 Person 8 Person
120% $98,280 $112,320 $126,360 $140,280 $151,560 $162,840 $174,000 $185,280
100% $81,900 $93,600 $105,300 $116,900 $126,300 $135,700 $145,000 $154,400
80% $65,520 $74,880 $84,240 $93,520 $101,040 $108,560 $116,000 $123,520
70% $57,330 $65,520 $73,710 $81,830 $88,410 $94,990 $101,500 $108,080
60% $49,140 $56,160 $63,180 $70,140 $75,780 $81,420 $87,000 $92,640
50% $40,950 $46,800 $52,650 $58,450 $63,150 $67,850 $72,500 $77,200
40% $32,760 $37,440 $42,120 $46,760 $50,520 $54,280 $58,000 $61,760
30% $24,570 $28,080 $31,590 $35,070 $37,890 $40,710 $43,500 $46,320

These numbers are current as of 2021 and are updated annually by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

What will the rents and mortgage payments be? Would my income qualify?

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) publishes an annual income and rent table that BCHA will use to manage income eligibility. HUD uses Area Median Income (AMI) to determine maximum incomes, and calculates rent plus utilities to be no more than 30% of a household’s income.

The complete AMI charts for Colorado, including Boulder County, are available at:
https://www.chfainfo.com/arh/asset/Documents/2021-Rent-and-income-limits.pdf

2021 Maximum Rents for 30-60% AMI Households

AMI (Area Median Income) 0 Bdrm 1 Bdrm 2 Bdrm 3 Bdrm 4 Bdrm
60% $1,228 $1,316 $1,579 $1,824 $2,035
50% $1,023 $1,096 $1,316 $1,520 $1,696
40% $819 $877 $1,053 $1,216 $1,357
30% $614 $658 $789 $912 $1,017

Owner occupied for-sale homes will be income restricted to those making 80-120% AMI and below. Maximum mortgage amounts will be determined through the planning and financing process and are not available at the moment.

Project Team and Financing

Why is Boulder County Housing Authority qualified to lead the planning, financing, construction, and ongoing management of the proposed housing in Lafayette?

The Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) is the official housing authority for all areas of the county beyond the city limits of Longmont and Boulder, including Lafayette. BCHA was formed to serve the unmet housing needs of Boulder County residents in 1975. BCHA owns and manages 835 affordable homes across Boulder County, including 257 homes in Lafayette. BCHA is committed to owning and managing our properties in perpetuity.

In the intergovernmental agreement, it’s noted that “Lafayette believes that BCHA has demonstrated its capabilities in the development, operation, maintenance, and management of affordable housing in the municipalities of Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Lyons, Nederland, and throughout unincorporated Boulder County,” and that “[Lafayette and BCHA] have worked together successfully for many years to create and preserve a diverse array of high-quality affordable housing options in Lafayette.”

What other projects of this scale has BCHA completed?

BCHA has competed projects of similar over the past six years: Josephine Commons (senior housing) and Aspinwall (middle-­‐ and low-­‐income affordable rental housing) and Kestrel in Louisville (senior and affordable rental housing). These communities have many amenities including a commercial kitchen with a senior meals program, a common house with a community center and classroom space, communal green space, playgrounds, community gardens, and connections to open space and trails. These communities were completed on time and on budget.

Who owns the land now?

Boulder County, Boulder County Housing Authority and the City of Lafayette jointly purchased the property in July 2017, with BCHA retaining title to the property.

An intergovernmental agreement is in place between the City of Lafayette and Boulder County dedicating the land for the creation of deed-restricted, permanently-below-market-rate homes, to include both rental and ownership options.

Open Space and Parks

How will this new community connect to the trail system?

BCHA is committed to ensuring that the new community has exceptional trail access and connections to Lafayette. The site’s proximity to the future Inspire trail as well as the existing Burlington trail provides an excellent opportunity to enhance and support Lafayette’s trail system. Trail connectivity is a vital component of our planning process.

Will there be green space on the site?

The new community will likely include community green space and amenities such as gardens. While the plans are not yet finalized, these have all been features included in our planned communities.

Community Outreach and Engagement

What is the East Lafayette Advisory Committee?

The East Lafayette Advisory Committee is a community group of citizens and others who are advising Boulder County Housing Authority staff in implementing an inclusive and effective community engagement plan and ensuring the creation of affordable homes at East Emma and 120th streets is a true community enhancement. Advisory in nature, the ELAC meets regularly and provides honest constructive feedback to BCHA and their partners.

How can we stay informed on the project?

  • Sign up here if you only want information updates about this new community in east Lafayette (and would not be interested in living in it).
  • Attend our community meetings and updates
  • Check in frequently on Nextdoor and any other social media accounts where we post updates.

Contact Us

Housing & Human Services

Phone: 303-441-1000
TTY: 1-800-659-3656
Fax: 303-441-1523
Submit a question

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 471
Boulder, CO 80306

Boulder Location

3460 Broadway
Map & Directions

Fax: 720-564-2283
Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM - Monday/Wednesday/Friday

Longmont Location

515 Coffman Street
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Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM - M-F

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